Buck Henry
A sly, witty presence in American comedy who co-wrote 'The Graduate' and became a beloved late-night talk show fixture.
1930–2020 (age 90)·American actor·Birthday: December 9·The Silent Generation
Biography
Buck Henry, with his dry, unflappable demeanor, operated as a stealth force in Hollywood's comedy revolution of the 1960s and 70s. He didn't just write the defining alienation of 'The Graduate'; he helped shape a new, ironic voice for American film. As a performer, he was the perfect straight man, whether stealing scenes in 'The Player' or as the host who kept 'Saturday Night Live' on its toes during its early, chaotic years. His career was a masterclass in creative adaptation, moving seamlessly from writing sharp satire to directing and acting, always with a glint of mischief in his eye. Henry remained a cultural touchstone, his bespectacled gaze a symbol of intelligent, subversive humor.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Buck was born in 1930, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Buck Was Born
The biggest hits of 1930
#1 Movie
All Quiet on the Western Front
Best Picture
All Quiet on the Western Front
Buck's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1930Born
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1935Started school
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1943Became a teenager
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1946Could drive
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1948Could vote
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Turned 21
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1960Turned 30
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 40
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 50
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 60
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 70
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 80
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Died at 90
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote the screenplay for 'The Graduate,' receiving an Academy Award nomination for Adapted Screenplay.
- Co-directed 'Heaven Can Wait' with Warren Beatty, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Director.
- Was the first person to host 'Saturday Night Live' multiple times, appearing ten times between 1976 and 1980.
- Created the cult television series 'Get Smart' with Mel Brooks, defining a genre of spy parody.
Did You Know?
He was a trained trampoline artist and once performed as part of a trampoline act in the 1950s.
Henry was a frequent guest on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,' appearing over 40 times.
His real name was Henry Zuckerman; 'Buck' was a childhood nickname.
“Writing is just a matter of getting your behind in the chair and your fingers on the keyboard.”
