Elaine May

Award- Winning Screenwriter, Film Director, Actress & Comedienne

Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
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Elaine May Biography

Elaine May is a screenwriter, film director, actress, and comedienne. She made her initial impact in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines with Mike Nichols, performing as Nichols and May.

After studying acting with theater coach Maria Ouspenskaya in Los Angeles, she moved to Chicago in 1955 and became a founding member of the Compass Players, an improvisational theater group. May began working alongside Nichols, who was also in the group, and together they began writing and performing their own comedy sketches, which were enormously popular. In 1957 they both quit the group to form their own stage act, Nichols and May, in New York.

They performed nightly to mostly sold-out shows, in addition to making TV appearances and radio broadcasts. In their comedy act, they created satirical clichés and character types which made fun of the new intellectual, cultural, and social order that was just emerging at the time. In doing so, she was instrumental in removing the stereotype of women being unable to succeed at live comedy. Together, they became an inspiration to many younger comedians, including Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin. After four years, at the height of their fame, they decided to discontinue their act. May became a screenwriter and playwright, along with acting and directing.

For her acting, her accolades include a nomination for a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a musical or comedy for A New Leaf (1971), and winning the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Small Time Crooks (2000).

May was awarded the National Medal of Arts for her lifetime contributions by president Barack Obama, in a ceremony in the White House on July 10, 2013.

In January 2016, the Writer's Guild of America-West announced that May would receive its 2016 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement at the Writer's Guild of America award ceremony in Los Angeles on February 13.

In April 2019, May received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Gladys in The Waverly Gallery on Broadway. She also received a Drama League Nomination and Drama Desk Award nomination for the role. She won the 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Actress in a Play.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/24/2024.

Elaine May Videos

  • Elaine May and Mike Nichols in conversation 2006

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  • What are the speaker fees for Elaine May

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  • What topics does Elaine May speak about?

    Elaine May is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Acting, Celebrity, Comedy, Entertainers, Entertainment, Faith & Religion, Jewish Heritage, Performing Arts, Television & Film.
  • Where does Elaine May travel from?

    Elaine May generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Elaine May is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Elaine May for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Elaine May generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Bette Midler, Gina Gershon, Zazie Beetz, Frankie Shaw and Maggie Siff. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Elaine May for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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