Paul Mazursky, five-time Oscar nominated screenwriter and director, dies at 84

Paul Mazursky, the Oscar nominated writer and director behind ‘70s classics Harry and Tonto and An Unmarried Woman, has died. He was 84 years old.

A family spokesman confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap and the cause of death was a pulmonary cardiac arrest.

Mazursky, who graduated from Brooklyn College, had been in the industry since the early 1950s, starting out as an actor in Stanley Kubrick’s first film, Fear and Desire. He continued appearing in films and television shows until the mid 1960s, when he turned to writing and directing.

Among his early writing credits is an episode of The Monkees and The Rifleman, as well as The Danny Kaye Show episodes. His first screenplay was I Love You, Alice B. Toklas and his first feature directing effort was Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.

Mazursky hit his stride in the 1970s, directing Art Carney to a shocking Best Actor Oscar win for Harry and Tonto. In 1978, he directed An Unmarried Woman, which was nominated for Best Picture. In total, he earned five Oscar nods, with his last coming for 1989’s Enemies: A Love Story. Down and Out In Beverly Hills was another acclaimed directing effort.

He later returned to acting, making appearances on The Sopranos and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

According to Variety, he is survived by wife Betsy and his daughter, writer Jill.