Warren Beatty (born 1937) is a noted American actor, producer, screenwriter and director whom may be so vain as inferred by
Carly Simon's song, but he proved a real innovator from the 1960s onward both artistically and what is possible for artists' careers in American film.
He started out in 1950s Hollywood as a young actor in TV productions as classy as
Studio One and
Playhouse90 as well as meat and potatoes work such as a regular in
The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis. He then hit the big time quickly in film with the hit,
Splendor In The Grass that made him an instant star in the medium with a
reputation for his randy pastimes and his reserved attitude to the press.
However, his career soon stumbled with a string of flops with the low point of starting production in
What's New Pussycat? only to make the mistake of asking
Woody Allen to write the screenplay. The comic genius took advantage of being given a bit part and proceeding to give himself more and more business by taking the equivalent amount away from Beatty. Beatty tried putting his foot down and walked, hoping the producers would try to coax him back, only to find them calling his bluff and replacing him.
At that point, Beatty resolved to have more control of his projects by becoming a film producer himself, an unheard ambition for an pretty boy actor that young. However, he proved that Hollywood thinking wrong by producing the film,
Bonnie and Clyde, an innovative and daring hit that helped usher in
New Hollywood.
Afterward, Beatty has distinguished himself with a string of noted films in which he served in various functions in different combinations whether it be acting, directing or producing. They include
Shampoo,
Heaven Can Wait 1978,
Reds,
Dick Tracy,
Bulworth, and
Bugsy. Unfortunately, his career has included major bombs like
Ishtar and his own production,
Town And Country. Since
that latter movie bombed in 2001, he has not acted in any film.
However, these downturns do not change the fact Beatty made it possible to actors and other artist to stretch their wings and try for far more in their careers than the old stereotypes ever made seem possible.
Beatty's older sister is
Shirley MacLaine. Yes, in
this life. That's why she didn't get the role of Bonnie in
Bonnie and Clyde.
He also has a son (
NOT a daughter), Stephen Ira, who's a transgender activist and writer with
a pretty good blog
.
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