Born Buck Henry Zuckerman in New York City; educated at Choate and Dartmouth. Former stage actor and TV writer ("Get Smart") who turned to film in the mid-1960s, bringing with him a peculiarly humorous perspective on all things American. His outstanding adaptations include THE GRADUATE (1967) and CATCH-22 (1970), and his performances in both of these as well as in Milos Forman's TAKING OFF (1971) are memorable. Other notable screen credits: (As writer, alone or in collaboration) THE TROUBLEMAKER (1964, also actor), THE GRADUATE (1967, also actor), CANDY (1968), CATCH-22 (1970, also actor), THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT (1970), IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH? (1970, also actor), WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972), THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN (1973), THE NUDE BOMB (1980), FIRST FAMILY (1980, also director & actor), PROTOCOL (1984), TO DIE FOR (1995, also actor) and TOWN & COUNTRY (2001, also actor), GET SMART (2008); (As director) I MISS SONIA HENIE (1971), HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978, co-director & actor); (As actor) DIE BRÜCKE / THE BRIDGE (1959), THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976), GLORIA (1980), EATING RAOUL (1982), DEFENDING YOUR LIFE (1991), THE PLAYER (1992, as himself), EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES, SHORT CUTS and GRUMPY OLD MEN (all 1993), THE REAL BLONDE (1997), THE MAN WHO COUNTED, 1999 and I'M LOSING YOU (all 1998), BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS and CURTAIN CALL (both 1999), and THE LAST SHOT (2004).  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1967: THE GRADUATE (w. Calder Willingham)  Nominated for Director 1978: HEAVEN CAN WAIT (w. Warren Beatty) 2 nominations