Neil Simon's Legacy of Laughter

Born on the 4th of July, Neil Simon defined American comedy for a generation of television, theater, and movie audiences. He was singularly skilled in pinpointing humorous and sometimes absurd aspects of human relationships. The comical entanglements of families, romantic partners, and friends all provided grist for his mill. Simon created an extensive cast of memorable characters and an arsenal of rapidly deployed quips and wisecracks to keep audiences laughing. But beneath the humor, an undercurrent of pathos brought depth to the wisecracking banter.