Origins & Early Life

Barry Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker. He has received numerous accolades including the Academy Award for Best Director for Rain Man (1988), as well as four Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards. Levinson's other best-known works are Diner (1982), The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bugsy (1991), and Wag the Dog (1997). In 2021, he co-executive produced the Hulu miniseries Dopesick and directed the first two episodes.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Levinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Violet "Vi" (née Krichinsky) and Irvin Levinson, who worked in the furniture and appliance business. He is of Russian-Jewish descent. After growing up in Forest Park, Baltimore and graduating from Forest Park Senior High School in 1960, Levinson studied broadcast journalism at Baltimore Junior College and American University in Washington, D.C. He later moved to Los Angeles to work as an actor and writer and performed comedy routines. Levinson at one time shared an apartment with would-be drug smuggler (and subject of the movie Blow) George Jung.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Levinson's first writing work was for television variety shows such as The Marty...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Belyaev — Contemporary (Died in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Soviet science fiction writer, known as 'Russia's Jules Verne'
• Ama Ata Aidoo — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Ghanaian writer, poet, and academician celebrated for feminist themes.
• Amitabh Bachchan — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Iconic figure of Hindi cinema, celebrated for versatility and enduring stardom.
• Albrecht Dürer — Shared historical date (04-06 · Died) (1528): Master of the German Renaissance, renowned painter, printmaker, and theorist.
• Alexander Kielland — Shared historical date (04-06 · Died) (1906): A foundational Norwegian realist writer, celebrated among the 'Four Greats' of literature.
• Anita Roddick — Historical peer (Born in 1942) (1942): Pioneering activist and founder of The Body Shop, championing ethical consumerism.
• Aretha Franklin — Historical peer (Born in 1942) (1942): The "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin defined American music with unparalleled vocal power.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• 1942 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1942
• April 6 (04-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 6