Seriously considered "Eyce Charry" for his professional name.
Screen-tested for and was selected as the lead in the movie Lenny (1974), based on the life of famed comedian Lenny Bruce. Diamond ended up declining. The role went to Dustin Hoffman.
When he and Barbra Streisand had a smash hit in 1978 with "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", it was not the first time that the Brooklyn-born superstars had sung together. While students at New York City's Erasmus High School, they both sang in the school choir.
Was a Pre-Med student, interested in Biology, at NYU, but left with less than a year left, due to his dislike of Organic Chemistry.
His soundtrack to the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973) grossed more than the movie itself.
Penned hits for other pop groups before making it on his own, including the Monkees' "I'm a Believer."
For his role in The Jazz Singer (1980), Diamond became the first ever "Winner" of a Worst Actor 'Razzie' Award.
Father-in-law of actress Sheryl Lee.
Was a top fencer during his time at New York University.
In 1981, his screen "acting" debut in The Jazz Singer (1980) beat out Kirk Douglas (Saturn 3 (1980)), Anthony Hopkins (_Change Of Seasons, A (1980)_ ), Richard Dreyfuss (The Competition (1980)), Michael Caine (The Island (1980)), Robert Blake (Coast to Coast (1980)) and four others to "win" the first-ever Worst Actor Razzie Award for 1980.
Was forced to pay $150,000,000 to former wife Marcia Murphey in their divorce settlement. This holds the record as the most expensive divorce in history.
Went to NYU on a fencing scholarship.
Suggested for the lead role in Taxi Driver (1976).
Neil Diamond is a pop icon with hit songs and sold-out concerts spanning three decades. Born in Brooklyn in 1941, he began songwriting as a young teenager. In 1966, Diamond recorded what would become his first three hit singles: Solitary Man, Cherry, Cherry and I Got The Feeling (Oh No, No). He also scored his first No. 1 record as a writer with the Monkees' I'm a Believer.
In 1969, Diamond had his biggest record of the early years, Sweet Caroline, from the album "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show/Sweet Caroline. The following year, he released the album Touching You Touching Me, which included the hit single Holly Holy." He released many other albums during this period, with hits like the No. 1 Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue (also No. 1) and I Am... I Said.
Diamond's reputation as a charismatic performer grew steadily in the '70s. In 1972, the Schubert Organization presented him in concert for a record-setting 20 performances of a one-man show at the Winter Garden Theater, making Diamond the first rock-era superstar to headline on Broadway.
In 1973, he signed with Columbia. His first release for the label, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, became his No. 2 all-time best seller and earned him Grammy and Golden Globe Awards. In 1974, he released Serenade, which yielded the hit Longfellow Serenade. In 1976, he recorded the platinum Beautiful Noise. On the singles charts, his 1978 duet ballad with Barbra Streisand, You Don't Bring Me Flowers, reached No. 1. The album by the same name, as well as I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight (1977) and September Morn (1980), continued his streak of platinum albums.
In 1980, Diamond not only starred in the remake of the movie classic The Jazz Singer, but composed and performed the film's multi-platinum soundtrack album.
The '90s have served to further Diamond's standing as one of his generation's premier performers. Diamond's track record is extraordinary: almost 60 hits in the United States, over 30 charting albums and one of the Top 20 most successful artists ever in the USA. His success in the United Kingdom and Australia is comparable. To this day he remains one of the rock era's greatest live solo performers and recording artists.
