Neil Simon, Broadway Master of Comedy, Is Dead at 91

Delivering Neil Simon's lines in community theater productions was like singing. It was that pleasurable.

So sad when Jack Lemmon left us, and now the writer, Neil Simon, whose words he articulated so magically and indelibly. Together they became arguably the finest comedic collaboration in the history of Hollywood. And how transcendent that Lemmon, who wasn't Jewish, became the greatest interpreter of Simon's profoundly Jewish humor.

Neil Simon and Jack Lemmon - the greatest comedic team in movie history, bar none!

The difference between Seinfeld and Neil Simon's plays is that most of Simon's characters are likeable. You care about what happens to them. Seinfeld characters, not so much. It is sad to think there will be no more new Simon plays to look forward to. But we can still enjoy the ones he already gave us. It should take quite a while to see them all.

I remember the build-up to the 2009 triple revival of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BILOXI BLUES, and BROADWAY BOUND which were intended to be a Broadway victory lap for Mr. Simon (and to make a star out of Noah Robbins). Then BRIGHTON BEACH opened, and so few people showed up that the whole thing was canceled and BRIGHTON BEACH closed before I even got to see it. I remember thinking of Mr. Simon, "That has got to hurt." (And Noah Robbins has never had his richly deserved day in the sun.) I also remember reading somewhere that the movie version of BILOXI BLUES was released in 1988 as a popular audience popcorn flick. But if it were made today, it could only be released on the art film circuit. Yep, things have changed.

Much gratitude NEIL, For many years of poignant, funny, sharply focused writing. You’ve contributed immensely to the quality of all our lives, shaping up generations of devoted followers . You’d be remembered with the warmest sentiments. Your humor and sensitive perceptions of human nature and relationships are unique.

If there is ever a movie about Neil Simon, I hope we can forgive Kevin Spacey for his transgressions. He is Simon's doppelganger.

It seems not only odd but disrespectful in an obituary of Neil Simon to say so much about Woody Allen. Simon never worked within another writer's shadow. He was not member of a New York School of Playwriting. He established it. He was his own man and inspired many other playwrights who learned so much from him ... including Allen.

I have always adored Neil Simon's comedy. His writing has such a wonderful sense of humor. Being a New Yorker I truly cherish his work as it always seems to write about me or people I know. I recently had the pleasure of seeing an exceptional performance of Brighton Beach Memoirs at Theater J in Washington DC. An absolute joy!

“Barefoot in the Park” was the first play I ever directed, and in over 30 years as a community theatre and college director, had the distinct pleasure of directing many more of Mr. Simon’s superb plays. His plays taught me so much about human behavior, comic timing, and the art of playwriting, and gave my casts and audiences enormous pleasure. It’s always annoyed me that critics pooh-pooh his work because his plays are not just about facile punch lines; they demonstrate a deep understanding of what comedy is all about because, always, underneath the laughter, there is that tinge of sadness, tragedy, even. The world has lost a grand master, and I doubt we’ll see his ilk again. Thanks, Doc, for all you taught me and for giving the world much-needed laughter.

Neil Simon was perhaps one of the best and most successful playwrights who ever lived. I caught his play Barefoot in the Park in Manhattan in the 60's and it was an upward climb for him from there. He gave many people a lot of pleasure through his plays and his talents were enormous. RIP Neal Simon.

Am I the only person seeing a connection? In 1966's "After the Fox" (play and screenplay by Neil Simon), the Fox, a master thief portrayed in the film by Peter Sellers, pretends to be a movie director on a movie being shot solely to disguise the transport of gold bullion he stole. When asked what the movie is about, Sellers replies "it's a movie about nothing". Jump ahead in time to Jerry Seinfeld and his show, "Seinfeld" and viewers are witness to 'Jerry and George' pitching a show to a network. When asked what the show is about, 'Jerry' replies "it's a show about nothing". Deferring to Seinfeldese, "not that there's anything wrong with that".

I was glad to have taken in the short-lived revival of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” a few years back. It was sad to see that New Yorkers no longer cared where they came from.

I still find his plays and the various iterations thereof to be entertaining and evocative of their time. The first Broadway play I saw was Lost in Yonkers. It was a memorable treat.

Excellent obit. Really liked the line "As he wrote in his 1996 autobiography, the plush comforts of Hollywood living might extend your life span, but 'the catch was when you eventually did die, it surely wouldn’t be from laughing.'" What an excellent quote from Mr. Simon. And what a great lesson for us all in how to extend ourselves beyond our comfort zones and continue to explore, experience, and live.

A few years ago, I directed Act 1, “Visitor from Mamaroneck,” for a community theatre production of “Plaza Suite.” I had seen and liked many of Neil Simon's plays and films, but reading his script was a revelation. His characters' bone-deep authenticity, his ear for language, his wry stage directions and his meticulous attention to detail (the property plot calls for a Gideon Bible to be in a nightstand drawer, although it is never used by any of the characters) made our work easy, leaving no doubt about his intentions but providing plenty of room for us to interpret the play for our small-town Midwestern audience. I gained an appreciation of his talents on a whole different level than I ever had as an audience member, and I encourage everyone to read his plays and experience them as works of literature.

It’s such a rare gift Neil Simon had to be uproariously funny without an overlay of negativity in any form. Simon’s unpretentious comedy seems to have stood the test of time perhaps better than any of his contemporaries, remaining truly inspired and fresh, something like the Irving Berlin of playwrights.

"The Odd Couple" and "The Out-of Towners" are two of the funniest films I've ever seen. Both of them had me laughing so hysterically the other patrons were annoyed nearly to the point of violence. You were a real mensch, Simon. Thanks for being.

The Goodbye girl hooked me onto Simon. I still laugh out loud when I remember the scene with Dreyfus and Mason where she confronts him for playing the guitar at 4 in the morning. RIP Mr Simon, your work stands as a testament to your great talent and our loss.

The obituary writer left out mention of "The Star Spangled Girl". I remember the Times reviewer saying, "Neil Simon, your favorite gagman, hasn't had a idea for a play in some time. But he's written one anyway."

Aaw! Mr Simon Thank you very much, for the laughs. You made my teen age so full of laughter and fun...i can listen to you, watch your movies aaaalll the time. Five decades later, you my heart still dances recalling your movies. Rest, Master.

I'm curious to know what exactly the author is insinuating with this line: "Mr. Simon ruled Broadway when Broadway was still worth ruling."

Big losses for America today, no more Neil Simon, no more John McCain.

Was Simon ever 'cranking out jokes for Jerry Lewis on television', as stated here?