Marvin Worth

Over the course of his more-than-40-year entertainment industry career, Marvin Worth went from comedy writer to one of Hollywood's most respected producers of comedies and dramas. Worth has won a Peabody Award and received three Oscar nominations for his feature films. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Worth was 15 when he became a promoter of jazz concerts. This quickly led him to book and manage jazz artists, including the legendary Charlie Parker and Billie Holliday. A few years later, Worth took on Lenny Bruce, helping the controversial young comic land his career-making spot on The Arthur Godfrey Show. Through the '50s and '60s, Worth wrote comedy for Bruce and other comedians, including Alan King, Joey Bishop, and Buddy Hackett. He also became a successful television writer, contributing to programs ranging from The Colgate Comedy Hour, Get Smart, and The Judy Garland Show. Worth debuted as a movie screenwriter in 1962 with Boy's Night Out, but subsequently only penned a few more scripts. In the '70s, Worth translated his intimate knowledge of Lenny Bruce and his career into a powerful and popular Broadway show, Lenny, winning a Tony for lead actor Cliff Gorman. In 1974, Dustin Hoffmann played Bruce in the acclaimed Worth-produced film version. That year, the drama received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Worth began producing in 1970 with Carl Reiner's jet-black comedy Where's Poppa? In 1972, Worth received his first Oscar nomination for his documentary production Malcolm X. Twenty years later, Worth would produce Spike Lee's version of the great black leader's life. This time, lead actor Denzel Washington would win an Oscar nomination. In the mid-'90s, Worth added the production of made-for-cable movies and miniseries such as HBO's miniseries Norma and Marilyn and the network's movie Gia (1998).

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide