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Carl Gottlieb

American actor (born 1938)


Summary

American actor (born 1938)

FieldValue
nameCarl Gottlieb
imageCarl Gottlieb (4x5 cropped).jpg
captionGottlieb in 2009
birth_date
birth_placeNew York City, U.S.
occupation
period1966–present
genreComedy, thriller
notableworksJaws

Carl Gottlieb (born March 18, 1938) is an American screenwriter, actor, comedian, and executive. He is best known for co-writing the screenplay for Jaws (1975) and its first two sequels, as well as directing the 1981 film Caveman.

Early life

Gottlieb was born on March 18th, 1938 to a middle class Jewish family in New York City, the son of Elizabeth, a medical administrative assistant, and Sergius M. Gottlieb, an engineer.

Gottlieb studied drama at Syracuse University where he befriended character actor Larry Hankin. After graduating, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as an entertainment specialist in the Special Services division from 1961 to 1963. Following his discharge, he became a member, later in the 1960s, of the San Francisco improvisational comedy troupe The Committee. They made one feature film: A Session with the Committee.

Career

He began writing comedy for TV, contributing to The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour for which he won an Emmy Award in 1969, The Music Scene, The Bob Newhart Show, All in the Family, and The Odd Couple. He also appeared on camera on Ken Berry's Wow Show variety summer television program in 1972. Minor acting roles have included Robert Altman's MASH* and the film Clueless.

Gottlieb also cowrote David Crosby's two autobiographies, 1989's Long Time Gone and 2006's Since Then.

''Jaws''

Gottlieb was hired as an actor to appear as Harry Meadows, the editor of the local newspaper, in Jaws. He was hired by his friend, Steven Spielberg, to redraft the script, adding more dimensions to the characters, particularly humor. His redrafts reduced the role of Meadows (who still appears in the Town Hall corridor and the Tiger Shark scene).

He wrote a book, The Jaws Log, about the notoriously difficult production of the film.

He was enlisted under similar circumstances to work on the Jaws 2 screenplay. He co-wrote the screenplays for The Jerk, in which he played Iron Balls McGinty, and Jaws 3-D. Gottlieb contributes to Jaws related activities, such as interviews (including the documentary The Shark Is Still Working) and attended JawsFest on Martha's Vineyard in June 2005.

Writers' politics

Gottlieb joined the Writers Guild of America in 1968 and became interested in Guild politics and with a desire to serve fellow writers following writers' strikes in the 1970s and 1981. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1983, and re-elected for numerous terms thereafter, including two stints as vice-president (1991–1994). He was again appointed VP of the Writers Guild of America, West in 2004 and served until the following year. In September 2011, he was elected as WGA-West secretary-treasurer.

Filmography

Feature films

As writer only

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1975JawsSteven SpielbergCredited with Peter Benchley
Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
1977Which Way Is Up?Michael SchultzCredited with Cecil Brown
1978Jaws 2Jeannot SzwarcCredited with Howard Sackler
1979The JerkCarl ReinerCredited with Steve Martin & Michael Elias
1983Jaws 3-DJoe AlvesCredited with Richard Matheson
Doctor DetroitMichael PressmanCredited with Bruce Jay Friedman & Robert Boris

As director

YearTitleNotes
1977The Absent-Minded WaiterShort Film
1981CavemanAlso Writer
1987Amazon Women on the MoonCo-Directed with Joe Dante, Peter Horton, John Landis & Robert K. Weiss
Directed Segments: Pethouse Video, Son of the Invisible Man, Art Sale & Peter Pan Theatre

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968MaryjaneLarry Kane
1970MASH'Ugly John'
1972Up the SandboxVinnie
Something EvilParty GuestTV Movie
1973The Long GoodbyeWade Party GuestUncredited
1975JawsHarry Meadows
1976CannonballTerry McMillan
1979The JerkIron Balls McGinty
1983The Sting IIMaitre D'
1984Johnny DangerouslyDr. Magnus
1985Into the NightFederal Agent
1995CluelessPriest
2017DeckerHimselfTV Series: 1 Episode

References

References

  1. (1999). "Making Sense of America: Sociological Analyses and Essays". Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
  2. [http://www.filmreference.com/film/96/Carl-Gottlieb.html Carl Gottlieb Biography (1938-)]
  3. "Escaping in an el Camino: The Larry Hankin Experience by World of Walley".
  4. Television Academy]] via [[YouTube]]. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. [http://www.filmreference.com/film/96/Carl-Gottlieb.html Carl Gottlieb Biography (1938-)] www.filmreference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. Valcourt, Keith. (28 July 2016). "'Jaws' screenwriter Gottlieb says classic film still has its bite". [[The Washington Times]].
  7. Singer, Bryan. "Reviews". The Jaws Log.
  8. Scott, Gabriel. (23 March 2004). "Writers Guild of America, west Appoints Carl Gottlieb New Vice President". [[Writers Guild of America, West.
  9. Scott, Gabriel. (20 September 2005). "2005 WGAw Officer and Board Election Results". [[Writers Guild of America West]].
  10. Mitchell, Gregg. (September 16, 2011). "Writers Guild of America, West Announces 2011 Officers and Board of Directors Election Results". [[Writers Guild of America West]].
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