Levinson, Barry (1942- )

US film director, producer, and screenwriter. Working in Hollywood's mainstream, he has been responsible for some of the best adult comedy films of the 1980s and 1990s. The offbeat realism of Diner (1982) gave way to such large-budget movies as Good Morning Vietnam (1987), Tin Men (1987), Rain Man (1988; Academy Awards for best picture and best director), and Bugsy (1991).

After the failures of Toys (1992) and Jimmy Hollywood (1994), he enjoyed critical and commercial success with Sleepers (1996) and Wag the Dog (1997). He also produced critically acclaimed television series such as Oz (1997).

Levinson began his career as a scriptwriter for television comedy programmes such as The Carol Burnett Show. Later, he turned to writing feature films such as High Anxiety (1977; with Mel Brooks), And Justice for All (1979), and Unfaithfully Yours (1983).