Barry Blaustein, comedy writer known for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Coming to America,’ dies at 71

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Barry Blaustein, a former writer for “Saturday Night Live” known for his work on the popular “Coming to America” movies starring Eddie Murphy and the documentary “Beyond the Mat,” passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71.

Screenwriting professor Norman Blaustein has died, Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts confirmed. He had been teaching at the school since 2012. Blaustein had been living with Parkinson’s disease for ten years and recently received a diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer last month, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

As a huge fan, I was so saddened to hear about Barry’s passing. Stephen Galloway, the dean of Dodge College, put it perfectly when he said Barry just understood comedy on a level few others did. He knew it wasn’t just about being funny; it needed depth and even a little darkness. But what really struck everyone, especially in his final years battling Parkinson’s, was his incredible positivity. It was genuinely astonishing. He’ll definitely be remembered for his amazing writing, but even more so for being such a kind and wonderful person.

Arthur Blaustein, working with his frequent collaborator David Sheffield, wrote several beloved comedies. These include the films “Coming to America” (1988) and its 2021 sequel, “Coming 2 America,” as well as “Boomerang” (1992) and “The Nutty Professor” (1996) with its follow-up, “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” (2000).

As a movie fan, I remember really enjoying “The Ringer” back in 2005 with Johnny Knoxville and Katherine Heigl – it was hilarious! I recently learned the director, Blaustein, also made “Peep World” in 2010. Apparently, he’s a pretty efficient filmmaker – he shot that one in just 21 days with a budget of around a million dollars. That’s impressive!

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I’ve always known Blaustein as someone who helped make a lot of funny stuff over the years, but honestly, the project he really seemed to love was the 1999 documentary, ‘Beyond the Mat.’ It followed three pro wrestlers behind the scenes, and it was just a really special film to him, as far as I can tell.

Ron Howard, Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, and Michael Rosenberg, who was president at the time, decided to make “Beyond the Mat” because they had a strong, established relationship with Blaustein, as reported by The Times.

In 1999, Grazer explained to The Times that Imagine Entertainment supported the project because the comedy writer had built up a strong reputation with the company and was genuinely enthusiastic about the topic. They decided to fund it based on their good relationship with a talented creator.

Barry had asked me to direct before, but I always turned him down,” Grazer explained, speaking about the documentary. “I’d always known Barry as someone who was purely a sketch comedy writer, so seeing this film really surprised me. I didn’t realize he was capable of such emotional and heartfelt storytelling.

The Times praised “Beyond the Mat” as a top film of the year, and it was a contender for an Academy Award, making it to the final twelve considered.

Barry Blaustein was born on September 10, 1954, and raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from W.T. Clarke High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University and then gained experience through an internship at NBC News in New York City.

Blaustein didn’t initially set out to be a writer, but he always dreamed of working in entertainment. He moved to Hollywood in the late 1970s, but getting started wasn’t easy. He described a chaotic work environment to the TTFT podcast, mentioning that all the typewriters were stolen and the person he worked for was untrustworthy.

I’ve always been fascinated by how people break into the industry, and Blaustein’s story is a great example of paying your dues. Eventually, his hard work led to a lucky break – his boss set him up with lunch with a producer who simply asked if he could write. He’d learned early on that in show business, you say ‘yes’ to everything, so he did! Before he knew it, he was writing for “The Mike Douglas Show,” which was a huge daytime program back then. They had everyone on that show – James Caan, Sonny Bono, even legends like Lucille Ball, David Letterman, and Bob Hope. It’s incredible to think about all the talent that passed through that studio.

“So I worked on that show, and every job I had has somehow led to another job,” he told TTFT.

In 1980, Blaustein joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” for its sixth season. It was there he met Sheffield, who would become his writing partner, and also Eddie Murphy. Together, the three of them created some of Murphy’s most memorable characters and sketches on the show, like Gumby, Buckwheat, and Mr. Robinson.

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The three collaborators shared a strong and lasting connection, and Blaustein playfully described their over 40-year working relationship with Sheffield and Murphy as the “longest marriage in showbiz.”

In 1987, Eddie Murphy, along with two other writers and Arsenio Hall, created the movie “Coming to America.” Murphy played an African prince who travels to the United States to avoid a forced marriage and ultimately finds love. He originally presented the idea to the writing team with around 20 pages of notes and concepts he’d written by hand.

Blaustein explained on the TTFT podcast that he hadn’t fully understood the film’s cultural impact until later. He was thrilled to discover it was now featured in the Smithsonian Museum and even in two different exhibits at the Museum of African American History, which he considered a huge honor.

After years of writing, producing, and directing, Blaustein decided to change careers in 2012. Following a divorce after 28 years and feeling disconnected from Hollywood, he was ready for a fresh start. He began teaching screenwriting at Chapman University’s highly-regarded Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, focusing on helping the next generation of writers.

Screenwriter Brianna Brown shared in a statement that he was an exceptional writer, but an even better teacher. She said his lessons profoundly impacted her creatively and personally, becoming a truly life-changing influence. Brown deeply values what she learned from him, both in and outside of class, and feels his talent, confidence, and humility have become a part of who she is.

Honestly, he was so much more than just a teacher to me. It was the kind of person he was that really made an impact. I’ll never forget being welcomed into his family like one of their own, and the way he showed – and I always felt – his unwavering love. Those personal qualities, that warmth… they’re going to be with me forever, influencing everything I teach and write. He didn’t just show me what to dream, but how to live a dream that truly mattered.

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Blaustein received a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis around 2017. He immediately thought of a conversation he’d had with Muhammad Ali, who bravely fought the disease publicly for many years before passing away in 2016.

He recounted how Don King, after appearing on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ invited him to Las Vegas to attend a boxing match. The night before the fights, King directed him to a specific table at a dinner party. There, he found himself sitting with Muhammad Ali, who was struggling with Parkinson’s disease. He tried to talk to Ali, but had difficulty understanding his speech.

Blaustein admitted that he thought, “How do I get out of this?”

When I found out I had Parkinson’s, my first thought was, ‘Will anyone still want to speak with me?’ I realized even I wouldn’t want to talk to someone like Muhammad Ali – and he’s one of the most incredible people who ever lived.

Eddie Murphy revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis changed his life and shared that he wrote the 2021 film “Coming 2 America” while secretly battling the condition. He explained that he kept his illness private from the studio at the time, but they are now aware.

Blaustein spent years traveling and speaking on behalf of the Parkinson’s Foundation. In a 2022 podcast interview, he explained, “Parkinson’s tries to isolate you – it wants you to withdraw and give up. But you have to fight that and keep living your life.”

Blaustein shared a funny story, explaining he jokingly uses his disabled parking permit as an excuse, saying, ‘I don’t feel like going to your sister’s—I have Parkinson’s.’ He even admitted to using it to get an upgrade on a flight.

Blaustein is remembered by his wife, Debra, whom he married in 2021, as well as his children, Corey and Kasey, and his granddaughter, Daisy.

A memorial service will be held at Chapman University.

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2026-05-13 13:38