Martin Charnin Biography (1934-)



Full name, Martin Jay Charnin; born November 24, 1934, in New York, NY; son of William (a Metropolitan opera singer) and Birdie (maiden name, Blakeman) Charnin; married Lynn Ross (a West Side Story dancer), March 2, 1958 (divorced, 1961); married Genii Prior (a West Side Story dancer), January8, 1962 (divorced); married Jade Hobson (a fashion director for Vogue, Mirabella, and New York Magazine), December, 1984; children:(first marriage) Randy; (second marriage) Sasha (a daughter). Education: Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, B.A., 1956. Addresses: Office-- c/o Richard Ticktin, Esq., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-0302. Career: Director, lyricist, composer, writer, and producer. Began career as a "Jet" in the original production of West Side Story. Author and director of nightclub acts for various performers, including Diahann Carroll, Abbe Lane, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Leslie Uggams, Jose Ferrer, Larry Kert, and Andrea McArdle. Member: American Guild of Authors and Composers, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guildof America, Dramatists Guild, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (executive board member), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, NewYork Theatre Actors Society, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Awards, Honors: Emmy Award, outstanding variety or musical program, 1970, for Annie, the Woman in the Life of a Man; Emmy Awards, outstanding single program--variety or musical, and outstanding director--comedy, variety, or music special (with Walter C. Miller), and Emmy Award nomination, outstanding writing--comedy, variety, or music special, 1972, all for "Jack Lemmon in S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin," Bell System Family Theatre; gold record, Recording Industry Association of America, 1972, for "The Best Thing You've Ever Done"; Emmy Award nomination (with Dave Wilson), outstanding director--comedy, variety, or music special, 1973, for Jack Lemmon--Get Happy; Drama Desk Awards, best lyrics and bestdirector of a musical, 1977, Antoinette Perry Award, best score of a Broadwaymusical, Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best director of a Broadway musical, and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, best new musical, 1977, all forAnnie; Grammy Award, best cast show album (with Charles Strouse), 1977, for Annie; Antoinette Perry Award nominations, best book of a musical and best direction of a musical, 1981, both for The First; gold andplatinum records for stage and film albums of Annie; Standard Award,most performed song of the decade, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, for "Tomorrow." Addresses: Office: c/o Richard Ticktin,Esq., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-0302.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Director, lyricist, composer, writer, producer
Birth Details
November 24, 1934
New York, New York, United States

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