Woody Allen

Allan Stewart Konigsberg, now known as Woody Allen, was born on December 1, 1935, and started his illustrious career selling one-liner jokes to gossip magazines before becoming a stand-up comedian, which brought him to the attention of film producers and in 1965 he was hired to write What's New Pussycat, then directed several films before winning over audiences with his first big hit, Annie Hall, in which he played a neurotic New Yorker, as he has done in several of his films, which often star his current lovers, including Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow, whom he left for their adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, who became Woody's third wife in December 1997.

The saving grace for Allen (real name Allan Stewart Konigsberg) is that much of his humour is self-deprecating.

Lonely boy: Born Allan Stewart Konigsberg in Brooklyn, New York, the comic had a troubled childhood and was regularly bullied by his classmates.

Image: Nerdy comedian Best known for: His comedy films Early life: Born Allan Stewart Konigsberg on December 1, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York.