AceShowbiz - Barry Blaustein, a celebrated writer and longtime collaborator of Eddie Murphy, passed away at the age of 71. Known for his work on Saturday Night Live and iconic films like Coming to America and The Nutty Professor, Blaustein died at his home in Los Angeles following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and stage four pancreatic cancer.

The news of Blaustein’s passing was shared by Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, where he had been a dedicated professor for many years. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, his health challenges intensified when he received the cancer diagnosis just last month.

Stephen Galloway, dean of Dodge College and former editor at The Hollywood Reporter, reflected on Blaustein’s resilience and warmth, stating that even with severe health setbacks, he continued to teach passionately. Faculty members at Chapman arranged a shuttle service to ensure he could attend classes despite his inability to drive. “He’s irreplaceable. We’ll miss him enormously,” Galloway said.

Among Blaustein’s proudest achievements was the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat, which he wrote, directed, produced, and narrated. The film provided an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at professional wrestling, particularly the Vince McMahon-led World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling. The documentary was one of twelve finalists for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature that year.

In addition to Beyond the Mat, Blaustein directed comedies such as The Ringer (2005), starring Johnny Knoxville and Katherine Heigl, which centered on the Special Olympics, and Peep World (2010), a dramedy featuring Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, and Ben Schwartz.

Born on September 10, 1954, Blaustein grew up on Long Island, New York. His career in comedy writing took a definitive turn in 1980 when he and writing partner David Sheffield were hired by Saturday Night Live shortly before its sixth season. That same year, Eddie Murphy joined the cast, initially as a featured player.

During their three seasons at SNL, Blaustein and Sheffield quickly became known for writing exclusively for Murphy, crafting some of his most memorable sketches. These included characters such as Gumby, Buckwheat, and Mr. Robinson, inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. In fact, the real Fred Rogers once approached the writers’ office to ask them to stop the sketches, which Blaustein recalled with a sense of humor in a 2000 NPR interview.

Beyond these characters, Blaustein and Sheffield wrote sketches where Murphy impersonated cultural icons including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Jesse Jackson, as well as the flamboyant pitchman Velvet Jones.

When Murphy conceived the idea for the film Coming to America (1988), he entrusted Blaustein and Sheffield with the screenplay. Directed by John Landis, the film was a major box office success, finishing third worldwide that year. The collaboration between Murphy, Blaustein, and Sheffield continued with the romantic comedy Boomerang (1992), the remake of The Nutty Professor (1996), and its sequel Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000).

After many years, the trio reunited for the sequel Coming 2 America (2021), a project that Blaustein worked on despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He chose to keep his illness private during the production, fearing it might affect his involvement. Only Murphy was informed, and he provided strong support throughout the process.

Blaustein attended W.T. Clarke High School, graduating in 1972, and later studied at New York University. His early writing work included a job on The Mike Douglas Show in 1979, a daytime program he fondly remembered watching with his grandmother.

Reflecting on Murphy’s early days at SNL, Blaustein described him as a rookie cast member who quickly demonstrated immense talent. The main cast at the time was not making a significant impact, so he and Sheffield saw an opportunity to write for Murphy, which proved to be a defining move in their careers.

Blaustein and Sheffield’s first feature film writing credit was Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), but their big breakthrough came with Coming to America. The following year, they collaborated on a CBS pilot for What’s Alan Watching?, a series produced by Murphy, which was well-reviewed but ultimately not picked up.

In 2005, the duo worked on a remake of The Honeymooners, starring Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps, which was met with mixed reception. They also returned briefly to SNL in 2019 to write for Murphy’s hosting stint, which became the show's most-watched episode since 2008.

Blaustein and Sheffield initially did not plan a sequel to Coming to America until their efforts to adapt it into a stage production stalled. By that time, Blaustein was coping with Parkinson’s disease. He emphasized the importance of staying positive and fighting the illness, acknowledging how it challenges one’s spirit but must not be allowed to dominate life.

Aside from comedy and film, Blaustein was a passionate fan of professional wrestling, though he usually kept this interest private. It was only after a surprise 40th birthday party, where wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes appeared, that he embraced this passion publicly. This inspired him to create Beyond the Mat, a documentary exploring the lives of wrestlers beyond the ring.

To gain trust and access, Blaustein spent years securing funding and approval before filming wrestlers such as Mick Foley (aka “Mankind”), Terry Funk, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. His dedication to capturing the human side of wrestling was evident in the film’s focus on their personal struggles and careers. Despite McMahon’s displeasure and legal threats, the documentary became a critical success.

In addition to his wrestling documentary, Blaustein directed the 2009 documentary Guys N’ Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals and contributed to the creation of the Russian TV comedy Fizruk over two summers.

Blaustein is survived by his wife, Debra, whom he married in 2021, his children Corey and Kasey, and his granddaughter Daisy. His legacy extends beyond his writing and filmmaking, as he was also deeply committed to teaching screenwriting at Chapman University since 2012.

A memorial service for Blaustein will be held at Chapman University, with details expected to be announced soon. His impact on comedy, film, and education has left an indelible mark on all who knew him and worked with him.