Elaine May, American actress, comedian, director, and screenwriter

Elaine Iva May, born Elaine Iva Berlin on April 21, 1932, is a towering figure in American entertainment, celebrated for her multifaceted career as a comedian, film director, screenwriter, playwright, and actress. Her indelible mark on the cultural landscape began in the 1950s, primarily through her groundbreaking improvisational comedy routines performed alongside Mike Nichols, as the iconic duo Nichols and May.

Early Life and the Genesis of a Comedy Duo

May's journey into performance began in Los Angeles, where she honed her craft studying acting under the esteemed Russian actress and acting coach Maria Ouspenskaya. Demonstrating a profound determination, she later moved to Chicago in 1955 with a mere seven dollars to her name, a testament to her dedication to her artistic pursuits. It was in Chicago that May became a founding member of the influential Compass Players, an improvisational theater group that would serve as a vital incubator for modern American comedy, eventually leading to institutions like The Second City. Here, her creative partnership with Mike Nichols began to blossom. They quickly discovered a powerful synergy, collaborating on and performing their own unique comedy sketches, which swiftly gained immense popularity for their sharp wit and innovative structure.

By 1957, recognizing the extraordinary potential of their collaboration, both May and Nichols departed from the Compass Players to establish their own stage act, "Nichols and May," in New York City. Their arrival on the scene was nothing short of revolutionary. Legendary producer Jack Rollins vividly recalled their act as "so startling, so new, as fresh as could be. I was stunned by how really good they were." They captivated audiences nightly in intimate Greenwich Village clubs, often sharing bills with rising stars like Joan Rivers and Woody Allen, before graduating to consistently sold-out shows on Broadway. Their reach extended beyond the stage, with numerous appearances on television and radio broadcasts, bringing their distinctive humor to a broader national audience. Through their comedic lens, Nichols and May masterfully crafted satirical clichés and recognizable character types, cleverly lampooning the burgeoning intellectual, cultural, and social order emerging in post-war America. Crucially, May's prominent role in this highly acclaimed and innovative duo was instrumental in challenging and ultimately dismantling the prevailing stereotype that women were incapable of excelling in live comedy.

A Legacy of Laughter and Influence

Nichols and May’s pioneering work became a profound source of inspiration for an entire generation of younger comedians, including celebrated figures like Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin, who openly acknowledged their debt to the duo's innovative style. Their live performances were so well-regarded that they released multiple comedy albums, earning four Grammy Award nominations and ultimately winning the coveted Best Comedy Album for An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May in 1962. However, after a whirlwind four years, at the very peak of their widespread fame, May made the difficult decision to discontinue their act. The creative partners found themselves at a crossroads: May yearned to explore further risks within the realm of improvisation, while Nichols sought to perfect their established form and pursue directorial ambitions. Beyond these artistic divergences, the intense demands of their highly improvisational and deeply personal performances had also taken a significant emotional toll on both of them. Their relatively brief yet explosively brilliant time together as comedy stars led New York talk show host Dick Cavett to famously describe their act as "one of the comic meteors in the sky." Woody Allen, himself a comedy legend, declared that "the two of them came along and elevated comedy to a brand-new level." Journalist Gerald Nachman poignantly noted that "Nichols and May are perhaps the most ardently missed of all the satirical comedians of their era," underscoring their enduring impact. Their extraordinary partnership was later celebrated in the 1996 PBS documentary Nichols and May: Take Two, which revisited their unique chemistry and profound influence.

Elaine May's Visionary Career in Film

Following the dissolution of Nichols and May, Elaine May embarked on a distinguished and often daring solo career that transcended various creative fields. While she appeared as an actress infrequently in films such as Luv (1967), Enter Laughing (1967), and California Suite (1978), it was behind the camera that she truly carved out a path as a groundbreaking artist. In a significant milestone for Hollywood, May became the first female director to secure a major studio deal since the trailblazing Ida Lupino, whose own directorial career had challenged industry norms decades earlier. This historic achievement paved the way for her directorial debut, the brilliant black screwball comedy A New Leaf (1971), in which she also starred opposite the legendary Walter Matthau. May's directorial vision was bold and uncompromising, as she continued to challenge genre conventions with a string of critically acclaimed films. These included her darkly humorous romantic comedy The Heartbreak Kid (1972), featuring stellar performances from Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, and her daughter Jeannie Berlin; and the intensely gritty gangster film Mikey and Nicky (1976), which showcased powerful dramatic turns by John Cassavetes and Peter Falk. Her talents as a writer also earned her significant recognition, securing her first Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Warren Beatty's acclaimed comedy Heaven Can Wait (1978). While her ambitious 1987 directorial effort, Ishtar, starring Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, was met with a generally poor critical and commercial reception at the time, it has since garnered a cult following and undergone a re-evaluation by some film critics, highlighting its unique artistic merit. May's creative bond with Mike Nichols was rekindled in later years, as she penned the screenplays for his successful films The Birdcage (1996) and Primary Colors (1998), earning her a Writers Guild Award nomination and a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for the latter.

Accolades and a Triumphant Return to the Stage

Elaine May's immense and wide-ranging contributions to American arts have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards throughout her career. In 2013, she was honored with the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government, presented to her by President Barack Obama for her lifetime contributions to American comedy. A remarkable testament to her enduring talent came in 2018, when, after an astounding 60-year absence, May made a triumphant return to the Broadway stage. She starred in Lila Neugebauer's critically lauded revival of Kenneth Lonergan's poignant play The Waverly Gallery at the John Golden Theatre – serendipitously, the very same venue where Nichols and May had performed nearly six decades earlier. Her performance garnered rapturous reviews from critics and audiences alike, leading to her winning the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. This achievement made her the second oldest performer ever to win a Tony Award for acting, a powerful affirmation of her undiminished artistry. Her legacy was further cemented in 2022 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bestowed upon her an Honorary Academy Award, recognizing her "bold, uncompromising approach to filmmaking, as a writer, director, and actress," acknowledging her profound and lasting impact across all facets of her extraordinary career.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Elaine May?

Elaine May is a highly acclaimed American comedian, film director, screenwriter, playwright, and actress, renowned for her innovative improvisational comedy with Mike Nichols and her pioneering work as a female director in Hollywood.

What was the comedy duo Nichols and May known for?

Nichols and May were known for their groundbreaking improvisational comedy sketches that satirized contemporary American society, intellectual trends, and character types. They redefined live comedy with their sharp wit and natural, spontaneous performances, influencing countless future comedians.

Why did Nichols and May break up?

The duo decided to end their act at the height of their fame due to differing creative aspirations – May wanted to explore more risks in improvisation, while Nichols aimed to perfect their existing form and pursue directing. Additionally, the intensity of their performances took a significant emotional toll on both artists.

What notable films did Elaine May direct?

Elaine May directed several critically acclaimed films, including the black screwball comedy A New Leaf (1971), the dark romantic comedy The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and the gritty gangster film Mikey and Nicky (1976). She was also the first female director to receive a major Hollywood studio deal since Ida Lupino.

What major awards has Elaine May received?

Elaine May has received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (1962), a National Medal of Arts (2013), a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (2019), and an Honorary Academy Award (2022) for her profound contributions to film and comedy.

What is Elaine May's significance in comedy and filmmaking?

Elaine May's significance lies in her innovative approach to improvisational comedy, breaking gender stereotypes for women in live performance. As a filmmaker, she was a pioneering female director in Hollywood, known for her bold, uncompromising, and genre-defying work, influencing both comedy and dramatic storytelling. Her career exemplifies versatility and artistic integrity.