gala 2003

Charles Grodin
Author, Actor, and Commentator

Charles Grodin is a unique figure in the American culture.

He is a movie star, a screenwriter, a movie producer, a Broadway star, a Broadway producer and director, a playwright with three plays produced in New York, a television star, a television director, a writer of television specials, and a talk show host on CNBC and MSNBC for five years.

Talkers Magazine called “Charles Grodin” one of the 10 most talked about television shows in America. He was a writer and director for “Candid Camera.” He is a member of the actor’s studio, a best-selling author and monologist with his show “An Evening of Humor with Charles Grodin.” Not to mention a human rights activist whose two-year effort to gain clemency for three women sentenced under New York’s harsh Rockefeller drug laws ended successfully during Christmas 1999.

Grodin attained movie stardom with “The Heartbreak Kid” in 1972 and then went on to star in a number of outstanding films, including “Heaven Can Wait,” “Seems Like Old Times,” Midnight Run” and the “Beethoven” movies.

At the peak of his stardom, he chose to stop doing movies and for the next five years hosted his own television show on CNBC and MSNBC. This was the one place in television where the unprotected people in our country could regularly count on being heard. Grodin hosted shows on the homeless, the hungry, domestic violence and prison reform.

Grodin is the author of three critically acclaimed books: “It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here,” which is considered by many to be the show business bible for actors, “How I Get Through Life” and “We’re Ready For You Mr. Grodin.” He also authored a children’s book, “Freddy the Fly.” He’s contributed pieces to The New York Times, Esquire Magazine and the Village Voice among many other publications.

Grodin has been honored for his work in all mediums. He’s received four Cable Ace nominations for “The Charles Grodin Show” as well as a Cable Ace nomination for his performance in Jules Feiffer’s play “Grownups.” Grodin’s received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in “The Heartbreak Kid” and an Outer Critic’s award for his performance on Broadway in “Same Time Next Year.”

On the other side of the camera, Grodin directed the Emmy-winning special “Acts of Love and Other Comedies.” He also earned an Emmy Award for his writing on “The Paul Simon Special” for CBS.

In addition, he produced and directed “Paradise,” an Emmy-nominated special, and wrote and directed “The Simon and Garfunkel Special.” The latter dealt with many of the same social issues Grodin addresses today and it was chosen as the American entry in the Montreaux International Television Festival.

Currently, Grodin is a regular contributor to the “Today” show and Court TV where he continues to put the spotlight on injustices in the justice system and is at work on a new volume of memoirs.