What do Woody Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, and Emmanuel Lewis all have in common? All three graduated from Brooklyn’s Midwood High School. Woody got his diploma in 1953, Hamlisch in the early 1960s, and Webster in the ’80s.
Other famous Midwood students include Grease‘s Didi Conn, poet June Jordan, and Prison Break star Wentworth Miller (though Miller transferred elsewhere before graduating).
For a school known for its math and science brainiacs, Midwood seems to produce a lot of actors and musicians too.
Midwood was built in 1940 on Bedford Avenue and Glenwood Road; construction costs ran to $2 million. Looks like the board of education got a good deal. It’s a lovely looking school building, with its six columns and cupola crowning the top.
Tags: Brooklyn Bedford Avenue, Didi Conn, Emmanuel Lewis, famous alumni Brooklyn high schools, June Jordan, Marvin Hamlisch, Midwood Brooklyn, Midwood High School, Roz Chast, Wentworth Miller, Woody Allen
July 23, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
So did Joe Cassano, head of AIG’s London office during the great failure of 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cassano
August 16, 2009 at 8:20 pm |
I’d like to speak for those of us who are not famous. Midwood was an extraordinary educational experience: our teachers were bright, enthusiastic and delighted in teaching. Any student who was interested in the subject was encouraged to work hard and was rewarded for effort. Our student government, the City of Midwood, introduced us to politics and personal responsibility and the Sing taught us that cooperation was essential to produce a great show.
Two other famous alumni are the composer, John Corigliano, and the writer, my cousin, Barbara Klaus.
Claire Jaffee Speciner, Class of 1950
August 17, 2009 at 5:36 pm |
Thanks for writing in. I’ve heard a lot about the quality of Brooklyn public high schools in the 1940s and 1950s; my father graduated from Lincoln in 1951 and his cousin graduated from Midwood in 1950, your year. These huge high schools really worked back then, and Midwood is still a top school today. (Don’t hear much about Lincoln, however.)
September 4, 2009 at 2:54 am |
What about Morty Gunty–a great Borscht Belt comedian. RGS, ’63
September 8, 2009 at 6:52 am |
Batchmates.com a nice alumni site to join and reunite with your friends.
January 26, 2010 at 5:16 am |
[...] It’s also where David Geffen, Buddy Hackett, and Moe and Curly Howard went to high school. That’s quite an illustrious list of alumni–almost as good as nearby Midwood High School. [...]
March 28, 2010 at 1:55 pm |
Victor Williams, who played Deacon, on CBS’ King Of Queens, is a Midwood grad from the 80′s
August 27, 2011 at 8:42 pm |
You forgot Larry Mars. He bar mitzahed with Woody Allen in 1948 at the the Talmud Torah of Flatbush. This off course was before high school
September 22, 2011 at 1:02 pm |
Hi Larry,
Haven’t heard from you in a long time. You never really shared your successes. Are you coming to the Midwood High School anniversary next Sunday? I realize you’re living in California.
Joan (Gross) Leach
November 6, 2011 at 5:49 am |
How about Hal Fishman, news anchor for KTLA here in Los Angeles. I graduated Jube 1950
December 10, 2011 at 2:03 am |
Eric Segal also went to Midwood – 1954
March 5, 2012 at 5:34 pm |
Gerald Gutierrez, Broadway director, Tony(s) and Drama Desk award winner. Class of ’67. Died in 2003.
“Tony Award-winning director Gerald Gutierrez, who helmed Lincoln Center Theater productions of Dinner at Eight, The Most Happy Fella, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Heiress, A Delicate Balance and more, has died, a spokesperson for Lincoln Center Theater confirmed Dec. 30.”
April 1, 2012 at 1:48 am |
What a great school to be part of…
April 11, 2012 at 1:25 am |
I graduated in 1982. I was fortunate that I was zoned for Midwood.
April 22, 2012 at 2:43 am |
Bob Harris: Voted Class Artist on graduation, went on to career in the then new television industry. Editor of pioneer trade magazine, Televiser, Advertising & Promotion Director of channel 13, then on to California and Hollywood.
June 17, 2012 at 8:58 am |
john sheehan here graduating class of 1971 thanks to the great very dedicated teaching staff at midwood i went on to attend brooklyn college and graduated from B.C in 1975 , i retired as a nyc dept of corrections captain in 2000, 20 year pension you cant beat that 20 year pension. during my years at midwood high school the vietnam war was raging with many demonstrations in front of the school, we are still at war somthings never change . thank you for posting my comment here
August 14, 2012 at 3:58 pm |
Lucky me. transferred the year Midwood opened (from Madison High) Grad in the 40′s. So long ago an such rich memories of students and staff. Franklyn Elliott..semi retired Psychologist.
September 18, 2012 at 7:13 am |
Can anyone help me identify a 1970 Midwood High Class ring with the initials E G? It also says Drilling 10K and Hornets on the front. Where can I get a year book or alumni for that year. Thanks. Jeff
November 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm |
[...] This Brooklyn high school has also enrolled its share of future celebs and stars. [...]
November 4, 2012 at 1:46 am |
I taught there for 1 term– Spring 1988. Then I was excessed. I could have gone to Midwood but I chose…Murrow!
November 11, 2012 at 7:07 pm |
Also from Midwood HS are Victor Williams from the show King of Queens and Andy Richtman from Man vs. Food on TLC.
December 27, 2012 at 12:36 am |
what about artist Charles Zuppardi ’63