Woody Allen

Woody Allen was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg on November 30, 1935. He was born in New York City of Jewish immigrants from Austria and Lithuania. Through his remarkable film-making career he came to make many films about being Jewish and about the anxiety of living in New York City; he often starred in his own movies. He wrote for television in the 1950s and 1960s but is most famous for his movies.

In the 1970s he began a professional and personal relationship with Mia Farrow, another famous actress. But his personal life exploded when he fell in love with Soon-Yi Previn, Mia's adopted daughter and his stepdaughter. Many people disagreed with this relationship and Farrow accused him of abuse. He ultimately married Previn and adopted two children with her.

His most famous movies are movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan, movies that were to some degree autobiographical. But the American film audience soured on him after the abuse charges, and people even today don't accept his relationship with his stepdaughter.


___ 1. What did Woody Allen do that was most controversial?
a. he made movies about New York City
b. he had a relationship with Mia Farrow
c. he had a relationship with his step-daughter
d. he adopted two children

___ 2. Which did he not make films about, according to the passage?
a. himself
b. living in New York City
c. Soo-Yi Previn
d. being Jewish

___ 3. Why have his films lost popularity over the years?
a. People are tired of New York City
b. People did not like his personal problems
c. He stopped making them too early
d. They were all about Soon-Yi