Early Life and Education of Woody Allen: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Woody Allen. A timeline of key moments.

Woody Allen is a prolific American filmmaker, actor, writer, and comedian recognized for his extensive career spanning eight decades. He is highly acclaimed for his screenplays, receiving a record number of Academy Award nominations in that category. Allen's work has garnered numerous awards including Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He has also been recognized with honorary awards such as the Honorary Golden Lion, BAFTA Fellowship, and Honorary Palme d'Or. Several of his films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1956: Marriage to Harlene Rosen

In 1956, Woody Allen married Harlene Rosen.

1959: Divorce from Harlene Rosen and defamation lawsuit

In 1959, Woody Allen and Harlene Rosen divorced. Rosen sued Allen for defamation due to comments he made during a television appearance after their divorce.

1959: Divorce from Harlene Rosen

In 1959, Woody Allen divorced Harlene Rosen.

1966: Marriage to Louise Lasser

In 1966, Woody Allen married Louise Lasser.

October 8, 1970: Soon-Yi Previn's presumptive birth date

Soon-Yi Previn has a presumptive birth date of October 8, 1970.

1970: Divorce from Louise Lasser

In 1970, Woody Allen and Louise Lasser divorced.

December 28, 1976: Soon-Yi Previn's legal birth document established

On December 28, 1976, the Seoul Family Court established a Family Census Register (legal birth document) on behalf of Soon-Yi Previn, with a presumptive birth date of October 8, 1970.

1977: Mia Farrow and André Previn adopted Soon-Yi

In 1977, Mia Farrow and André Previn adopted Soon-Yi Previn from Seoul, South Korea.

1978: Bone scan estimates Soon-Yi's age

In early 1978, a bone scan in the U.S. estimated that Soon-Yi Previn was between six and eight years old.

1979: Allen and Farrow meet

In 1979, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow met.

1979: Tribute to Bob Hope and Manhattan Release

In 1979, Woody Allen paid tribute to Bob Hope at the Film Society at Lincoln Center. Also in 1979, Allen directed "Manhattan", a comic homage to New York City.

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1980: Allen and Farrow begin relationship

In 1980, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow began a relationship; Farrow starred in 13 of Allen's films from 1982 to 1992.

1984: Allen and Farrow try to conceive a child

In 1984, Mia Farrow and Woody Allen tried to conceive a child together, with Allen stipulating he would not be involved in the child's care.

July 1985: Farrow adopts Dylan Farrow

In July 1985, Mia Farrow adopted a baby girl, Dylan Farrow. Woody Allen was not involved in the adoption initially, but later assumed a parental role.

December 19, 1987: Birth of Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow

On December 19, 1987, Mia Farrow gave birth to her and Woody Allen's son, Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow.

1990: Soon-Yi attends Knicks games with Allen

In 1990, Soon-Yi Previn started attending New York Knicks games with Woody Allen.

September 1991: Soon-Yi begins studies at Drew University

In September 1991, Soon-Yi Previn began studies at Drew University in New Jersey.

December 1991: Adoption of Dylan and Moses finalized

In December 1991, Woody Allen's adoption of Dylan and Moses was finalized, after an agreement with Mia Farrow during her attempt to adopt another child.

January 1992: Farrow discovers nude photographs of Previn

In January 1992, Mia Farrow found nude photographs of Soon-Yi Previn in Woody Allen's home, leading to legal action.

August 4, 1992: Allen visits children at Farrow's home

On August 4, 1992, Woody Allen visited the children at Mia Farrow's home in Bridgewater, Connecticut, leading to allegations of inappropriate behavior with Dylan Farrow.

August 1992: Allen and Previn relationship becomes public

In August 1992, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn's relationship became public, causing tabloid headlines and late-night monologues.

August 17, 1992: Allen issues a statement about Soon-Yi

On August 17, 1992, Woody Allen issued a statement saying that he was in love with Soon-Yi Previn, making their relationship public and sparking controversy.

March 1993: Yale-New Haven Hospital investigation concludes

In March 1993, a six-month investigation by the Child Sexual Abuse Clinic of Yale-New Haven Hospital concluded that Dylan Farrow had not been sexually abused.

June 1993: Judge rejects Allen's custody bid

In June 1993, Judge Elliott Wilk rejected Woody Allen's bid for custody and rejected the allegation of sexual abuse, but called Allen's conduct with Dylan "grossly inappropriate".

September 1993: State prosecutor declines to pursue charges

In September 1993, the state prosecutor announced that despite having "probable cause", he would not pursue charges against Woody Allen in order "to avoid the unjustifiable risk of exposing a child to the rigors and uncertainties of a questionable prosecution".

October 1993: Child Welfare Agency closes investigation

In October 1993, the New York Child Welfare Agency of the State Department of Social Services closed a 14-month investigation and concluded there was not credible evidence of abuse or maltreatment, and the allegation was unfounded.

1993: Custody hearing

According to a 1993 custody hearing, Allen told Farrow he would not object to another adoption so long as she would agree to his adoption of Dylan and Moses

December 23, 1997: Allen and Previn marry

On December 23, 1997, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn were married in Venice, Italy.

1997: Marriage to Soon-Yi Previn

In 1997, Woody Allen married Soon-Yi Previn.

2004: Allen Discusses Film Industry Changes

In a 2004 interview, Woody Allen commented on the changes in the film industry in the United States, noting the studios' focus on big-budget, money-making films over smaller, good films.

2006: Allen calls Match Point his best film

In a 2006 interview with Premiere Magazine, Woody Allen said that "Match Point" was the best film he had ever made.

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2013: Keaton Reflects on Allen

In 2013, Diane Keaton reflected on her early relationship with Woody Allen, stating she 'fell in love with him right away' even before auditioning for 'Play It Again, Sam' and pursued a relationship with him.

February 1, 2014: Dylan Farrow's open letter published in The New York Times

On February 1, 2014, New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof published a column with excerpts from a letter Dylan Farrow had written, restating the allegation against Woody Allen. Allen responded in an open letter, also in The New York Times, strongly denying it.

2017: Allen presents Keaton with AFI Life Achievement Award

In 2017, Woody Allen presented Diane Keaton with the AFI Life Achievement Award in a rare public appearance.

2018: Moses Farrow publishes blog post "A Son Speaks Out"

In 2018, Moses Farrow published a blog post called "A Son Speaks Out," denying the abuse allegations against Woody Allen and recounting alleged physical abuse by Mia Farrow.

March 2020: Hachette cancels Apropos of Nothing

In early March 2020, Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced that it would publish Allen's memoir, Apropos of Nothing, on April 7, 2020. Days later, after employee walkouts, parent company Hachette announced that the title was canceled and rights had reverted to Allen. On March 23, 2020, Skyhorse Publishing announced that it had acquired and released Apropos of Nothing through its Arcade imprint.

September 2025: Interview on Honestly with Bari Weiss

In September 2025, during an interview on Honestly with Bari Weiss, Woody Allen discussed making 50 films, his atheism, his worries, avoidance of watching his own films, daily writing, and his view of Manhattan as a poem. He also named Sidney Bechet as his favorite musician, Camille Pissarro as his favorite painter, and Willie Mays as his favorite baseball player.