Legendary playwright Neil Simon left our mortal coil last night at age 91. One of the greatest comedy writers of the 20th Century, Simon is a big part of the reason why I hate most of what passes for humor in the last twenty years. The level of talent and warmth that this man possessed seems to be absent from too many modern productions. The three-time Tony winner was such a towering presence on the NYC stage in the '60s and '70s, that his contributions to film are often overlooked. "The Odd Couple" has only been around for over five decades, and the universality of Felix and Oscar should keep them bickering on stage, screen or television for five more. "The Sunshine Boys" are not far behind, as Walter Matthau(we miss him, too) emerged as his cinematic avatar. Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, Charles Grodin, George Burns, Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason and Mathew Broderick also benefitted immensely, as did we, from his domesticated dialogue and heartfelt hilarity.
Complete filmography(26 films, screenplays only)
"After the Fox"(1966)
"Barefoot in the Park"(1967)
"The Odd Couple"(1968)
"Sweet Charity"(1969)
"The Out-of-Towners"(1970)
"Plaza Suite"(1971)
"Last of the Red Hot Lovers"(1972)
"The Heartbreak Kid"(1972)
"The Prisoner of Second Avenue"(1975)
"The Sunshine Boys"(1975)
"Murder by Death"(1976)
"The Goodbye Girl"(1977)
"The Cheap Detective"(1978)
"California Suite"(1978)
"Chapter Two"(1979)
"Seems Like Old Times"(1980)
"Only When I Laugh"(1981)
"I Ought to Be in Pictures"(1982)
"Max Dugan Returns"(1983)
"The Lonely Guy"(1984)
"The Slugger's Wife"(1985)
"Brighton Beach Memoirs"(1986)
"Biloxi Blues"(1988)
"The Marrying Man"(1991)
"Lost in Yonkers"(1993)
"The Odd Couple II"(1998)
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