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Barry W. Blaustein

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Barry Wayne Blaustein (September 10, 1954 – May 12, 2026) was an American comedy writer best known for his writing on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and the screenplays for Coming to America (1988), Coming 2 America (2021), and The Nutty Professor (1996), all written in collaboration with David Sheffield, and starring Eddie Murphy.[1] He is also known for the wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat (1999) and the comedy films Peep World (2010) and The Ringer (2005).

Barry W. Blaustein
Blaustein in 1972
Born
Barry Wayne Blaustein

(1954-09-10)September 10, 1954
Long Island, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 12, 2026(2026-05-12) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • television writer
SpouseDebra Stricklin

Life and career

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Blaustein was born in Long Island, New York, on September 10, 1954. He grew up in Westbury, New York where he attended W. T. Clarke High School. In 1976, he graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.[2][3]

Soon after graduating, Blaustein took an internship at NBC News in New York and worked as a production assistant for CBS's Circus of the Stars. He later receiving a writing position for The Mike Douglas Show, in Hollywood, in 1979.[3][4] In 1980, he became a writer for Saturday Night Live prior to its sixth season.[5] During his time at SNL, he re-envisioned the character Gumby and collaborated with comedian Eddie Murphy and writer David Sheffield.[2] He left the position in 1983, after 3 seasons.[6]

In 1999, Blaustein directed, wrote, produced, and narrated the wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat.[7]

In 2012, Blaustein began working as a screenwriting professor at Chapman University.[6][8] In 2015, he won a Taffy Award for the Russian Comedy Fizruk, which he had be a screenwriter in from 2013 to 2014.[9] In mid-2016, Blaustein was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In April 2026, he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,[4][10] and died on May 12, 2026, at the age of 71.[6]

Filmography

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Writing credits

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Directing credits

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References

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  1. ↑ "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Sandomir, Richard (May 19, 2026). "Barry Blaustein Dies at 71; Eddie Murphy Was His Muse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Barry Blaustein, comedy writer known for 'Saturday Night Live' and 'Coming to America,' dies at 71". Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Barry Blaustein, 'SNL' And Movie Writer For Eddie Murphy, Dies At 71". Yahoo Entertainment. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Barry Blaustein Had a Major Hand in Making Eddie Murphy's Biggest SNL Sketches". NBC. May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Barnes, Mike (May 12, 2026). "Barry Blaustein, Writer for Eddie Murphy on 'Saturday Night Live' and the 'Coming to America' Films, Dies at 72". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ Pollock, John (May 12, 2026). ""Beyond the Mat" director Barry Blaustein dies at 72 - POST Wrestling | Podcasts, News, Reviews | WWE AEW NXT NJPW". POST Wrestling. Retrieved May 23, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ D'Angelo, Bob (May 16, 2026). "Barry Blaustein, comedy writer for 'SNL' and 'Coming to America,' dies at 71". KIRO 7 News Seattle. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Blaustein Creates Runaway TV Success in Russia". Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Woodroof, Cory. "Barry Blaustein cause of death: What we know on great Eddie Murphy collaborator". For The Win. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
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