Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner - Lyricists, Family and Family

Violet FieldHome › AmericanAlan Jay LernerAugust 31, 1918323 views

0 based on 0 rates
Alan Jay Lerner Biography Stories 

Alan Jay Lerner's Personal Details

Alan Jay Lerner was a renowned American librettist and lyricist

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 31, 1918
Died onJune 14, 1986
NationalityAmerican
FamousJuilliard School, Writers, Poets, Lyricists
SpousesLiz Robertson (m. 1981–1986), Nancy Olson (m. 1950–1957), Sandra Payne (m. 1974–1976)
SiblingsSamuel Alexander Lerner
ChildrensJennifer Lerner, Liza Lerner
Universities
  • Juilliard School
Notable Alumnis
  • Juilliard School
Birth PlaceNew York City
GenderMale
FatherJoseph Jay Lerner
MotherEdith Adelson Lerner
Sun SignVirgo
Born inNew York City
Famous asAmerican lyricist
Died at Age67

// Famous Lyricists

Bernie Taupin

Bernie Taupin

Bernie Taupin is an English singer, lyricist, and poet. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, music career, etc.

Robert Burns

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a famous Scottish poet and lyricist, who was also known as the national poet of Scotland. Read more about his life and works in the following article.

Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is a bestselling author of books like ‘The Alchemist’ and ‘Brida’. This biography of Paulo Coelho provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Alan Jay Lerner's photo

Who is Alan Jay Lerner?

Alan Jay Lerner was an American librettist and lyricist who along with Frederick Loewe created some of the most renowned and enduring works of musical theatre. He started his musical career by creating lyrics for Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding musical show. Together with Loewe, he created several successful musicals. They achieved their first success with the musical Brigadoon, which bagged the New York Drama Critics Circle award for best musical. Some of their successful musical works include The Patsy called Life of the Party and What’s Up? Their joint work that received wide acknowledgement was My Fair Lady. In New York itself a total of 2,717 performances of this musical were staged. After their split, Alan also worked with Kurt Weill and Burton Lane. He was credited for the creation of more than 500 radio scripts. He was the script writer of An American in Paris, an American musical film. His autobiography, The Street Where I Live, is a vivid account of his and Loewe’s successful collaborations on My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot. His representation of the history of theatre in his book The Musical Theatre: A Celebration is an interesting description full with personal anecdotes which also reflects his witty personality.

// Famous Poets

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline

Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. Know about his profile, childhood, life and timeline in the biography below.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist and humanist. Read this brief biography to find more on his life & timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born in New York City to father Edith Adelson Lerner and mother Joseph Lerner who were prosperous retailers. His brother Samuel Alexander Lerner set up and owned Lerner Stores, a renowned retailer of women’s fashions and accessories.

He attended Bedales School in England. Later, he took admission at The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut where John F. Kennedy was his classmate. During this period he created The Choate Marching Song.

During the summer of 1936 and 1937, he attended the Julliard School of Music, New York City. In 1938 and in 1939, he created lyrics for Hasty Pudding musical show at Harvard. In 1940, he completed his graduation from Harvard.

Career

From 1940 to 1942, he wrote above 500 radio scripts. In the initial days of his career, he wrote Your Hit Parade which continued until he met Austrian composer Frederick Loewe in 1942.

Together, they did a musical collaboration of Barry Connor's farce The Patsy called Life of the Party in 1942, for a Detroit Stock Company which enjoyed a nine week successful run.

The duo also joined hands with Arthur Pierson for What’s Up?. This ran for 63 performances and was followed by The Day Before Spring which led to establishing one of the most successful partnerships of Broadway.

In 1947, the first hit of this partnership was Brigadoon which was followed by Paint Your Wagon. It was less successful. Lerner also worked with Kurt Weill on a stage musical show - Love Life in 1948.

In 1951, he worked with Burton Lane for the movie Royal Wedding. In the same year, he wrote the script for An American in Paris. Produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Vincente Minnelli, it won an Oscar award.

In the year 1956, Lerner and Loewe unveiled My Fair Lady which hit the box office records in New York and London and its filmy adaptation won eight Oscars. This film was translated into 11 languages.

Their next project was a musical film Gigi, based on the story of Colette, a French novelist. The film went on to win all of its nine Oscar nominations and a special Oscar for one of its co-stars.

In 1960, they worked for Camelot whose director was Moss Hart. On account of the death of Hart shortly after the show’s premiere, problem developed between Lerner and Loewe regarding the direction of the show and they split after this show.

After creating a number of musicals, he collaborated with Burton Lane to produce the musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever in 1965. This work of Lerner was adopted for a film in 1970.

In 1974, he and Fritz Loewe worked on the musical version of The Little Prince by adopting the children’s story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The film failed to get success.

Major Works

Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, Lerner created lyrics for the musical My Fair Lady in 1956. Under Broadway production, this musical received huge success. Directed by Moss Hart, it ran successfully till 1962.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married eight times - Ruth Boyd (1940–1947), Marion Bell (1947–1949), Nancy Olson (1950–1957), Micheline Muselli Pozzo di Borgo (1957–1965), Karen Gunderson (1966–1974), Sandra Payne (1974–1976), Nina Bushkin (1977–1981) and Liz Robertson (1981–1986). He breathed his last due to lung cancer, at the age of 67 in Manhattan.

Trivia

During his student life at Harvard, he lost the eye sight of his left eye as a result of an accident in a boxing match. Due to this he could not serve in the World War II. He was also well known for his sense of humor.

It was known that he was careless about his family and wives during his involvement in shows. For a number of years, he was under Methedrine treatments, prescribed by a doctor.

According to many sources, divorces cost him much of his wealth, but many others say Lerner himself was responsible for his financial mess.

// Famous Writers

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is a well-known American writer, autistic activist and animal expert. This biography profiles her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. This biography of Tennessee Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline.

Alan Jay Lerner's awards

YearNameAward

Other

1958Academy Award for Best Original Song
1968Golden Globe for Best Original Song
1975Golden Globe for Best Original Score
1957Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
1957Tony Award for Best Original Score
1947New York Drama Critics for Best Musical
1957New York Drama Critics for Best Musical
1985Johnny Mercer Award for Lyric Writing
01985 - Kennedy Center Honors
0 1951 - Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
0 1958 - Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

Alan Jay Lerner biography timelines

  • // 1936 To 1940
    During the summer of 1936 and 1937, he attended the Julliard School of Music, New York City. In 1938 and in 1939, he created lyrics for Hasty Pudding musical show at Harvard. In 1940, he completed his graduation from Harvard.
  • // 1940 To 1942
    From 1940 to 1942, he wrote above 500 radio scripts. In the initial days of his career, he wrote Your Hit Parade which continued until he met Austrian composer Frederick Loewe in 1942.
  • // 1942
    Together, they did a musical collaboration of Barry Connor's farce The Patsy called Life of the Party in 1942, for a Detroit Stock Company which enjoyed a nine week successful run.
  • // 1947 To 1948
    In 1947, the first hit of this partnership was Brigadoon which was followed by Paint Your Wagon. It was less successful. Lerner also worked with Kurt Weill on a stage musical show - Love Life in 1948.
  • // 1951
    In 1951, he worked with Burton Lane for the movie Royal Wedding. In the same year, he wrote the script for An American in Paris. Produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Vincente Minnelli, it won an Oscar award.
  • // 1956
    In the year 1956, Lerner and Loewe unveiled My Fair Lady which hit the box office records in New York and London and its filmy adaptation won eight Oscars. This film was translated into 11 languages.
  • // 1960
    In 1960, they worked for Camelot whose director was Moss Hart. On account of the death of Hart shortly after the show’s premiere, problem developed between Lerner and Loewe regarding the direction of the show and they split after this show.
  • // 1974
    In 1974, he and Fritz Loewe worked on the musical version of The Little Prince by adopting the children’s story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The film failed to get success.

// Famous Juilliard School

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is a Guatemalan-American actor and a musician. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.

Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher is an American actor. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is a renowned American actress as well as producer. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about her life.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams

Robin Williams was an American actor best known for his performance in the movie ‘Good Will Hunting’. This biography of Robin Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar is an American singer and rock sensation who has bagged four consecutive Grammy Awards. This biography offers detailed information about her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline.

Nina Simone

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was one of the most iconic American musical icons of the 20th century. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Alan Jay Lerner's FAQ

  • What is Alan Jay Lerner birthday?

    Alan Jay Lerner was born at 1918-08-31

  • When was Alan Jay Lerner died?

    Alan Jay Lerner was died at 1986-06-14

  • Where was Alan Jay Lerner died?

    Alan Jay Lerner was died in New York City

  • Which age was Alan Jay Lerner died?

    Alan Jay Lerner was died at age 67

  • Where is Alan Jay Lerner's birth place?

    Alan Jay Lerner was born in New York City

  • What is Alan Jay Lerner nationalities?

    Alan Jay Lerner's nationalities is American

  • Who is Alan Jay Lerner spouses?

    Alan Jay Lerner's spouses is Liz Robertson (m. 1981–1986), Nancy Olson (m. 1950–1957), Sandra Payne (m. 1974–1976)

  • Who is Alan Jay Lerner siblings?

    Alan Jay Lerner's siblings is Samuel Alexander Lerner

  • Who is Alan Jay Lerner childrens?

    Alan Jay Lerner's childrens is Jennifer Lerner, Liza Lerner

  • What was Alan Jay Lerner universities?

    Alan Jay Lerner studied at Juilliard School

  • What was Alan Jay Lerner notable alumnis?

    Alan Jay Lerner's notable alumnis is Juilliard School

  • Who is Alan Jay Lerner's father?

    Alan Jay Lerner's father is Joseph Jay Lerner

  • Who is Alan Jay Lerner's mother?

    Alan Jay Lerner's mother is Edith Adelson Lerner

  • What is Alan Jay Lerner's sun sign?

    Alan Jay Lerner is Virgo

  • How famous is Alan Jay Lerner?

    Alan Jay Lerner is famouse as American lyricist