{{COI|date=November 2024}} {{Short description|American writer (born 1969)}} {{Infobox person | name = Crystal McCrary McGuire | birth_name = Crystal McCrary | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|10|24}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan | alma_mater = University of Michigan<br/> New York University School of Law<br/>Washington College of Law | occupation = Attorney, filmmaker, author | spouse = Greg Anthony (div.)<br>Ray McGuire | children = 3, including Cole Anthony }}
'''Crystal McCrary McGuire''' (formerly '''Anthony'''; born October 24, 1969) is a writer, film producer and director, a former attorney and a broadcast personality.<ref name=crainsny>{{cite news |title=Author Entertains Vast Possibilities |url=https://s3-prod.crainsnewyork.com/s3fs-public/CN12043128.PDF |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Crain’s New York Business |publisher=Crain's |date=January 2007 |page=F-21}}</ref> She is a creator and producer of entertainment content, including award-winning BET Networks shows ''Leading Women'' and ''Leading Men'' and youth basketball documentary ''Little Ballers''.<ref name=essence/>
==Biography== She was born in October 24, 1969, in Detroit, Michigan, to Magellan Gomez McCrary and Thelma Barrington, and into a family that includes 10 lawyers.<ref name="crains">{{cite news |last1=POTKEWITZ |first1=HILARY |date=2007 |title=40 UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2007 Crystal McCrary Anthony, 36 Author, lawyer and executive producer |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/crystal-mccrary-anthony |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Crain's New York |publisher=Crain's}}</ref> She has one sister. After receiving a bachelor's degree ''magna cum laude'', in 1991 from the University of Michigan, she attended the Washington College of Law at the American University in Washington, DC, and the New York University School of Law, earning her J.D. degree in 1995. During law school, she also joined the international law program sponsored by Tulane University, studying European Community law in Paris, France.<ref name=Orlov/><ref name=amsterdam/>
==Career== ===Attorney=== She began her legal career as an associate at New York City law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison,<ref name=crains/> where she represented entertainment personalities and executives, such as Andrew Lloyd Webber,<ref name=wapo>{{cite news |last1=Merida |first1=Kevin |title=HOOP SKIRTS: NBA WIVES' TALE |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/10/27/hoop-skirts-nba-wives-tale/1fc5bc25-1899-40de-a07c-63423a65fbbd/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=27 October 1998}}</ref> as an entertainment lawyer,<ref>{{cite web |title=Soulivity LIVE! Special Guest: Crystal McCrary |url=https://soulivity.com/soulivity-live-special-guest-crystal-mccrary-february-20-2018/ |website=soulivity.com |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=20 February 2018}}</ref> while quietly authoring a novel that reflects the milieu. In 1997, she transitioned to writing, resigning her position as an attorney.<ref name=crains/>
===Author=== A story creator since childhood,<ref name=essence/> she co-wrote the novel ''Homecourt Advantage'' with Rita Ewing (then spouse of New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing), an intimate portrait of the "dysfunctional off-court lives of multimillionaire athletes and their significant others", according to ''Washington Post'' reviewer Kevin Merida, in 1998. It became a bestseller, and film rights to the book were purchased by "a film triad that includes Wesley Snipes' production company."<ref name=wapo/>
Her second work, ''Gotham Diaries'', grew out of a collaboration with Tonya Lewis Lee, who is also a lawyer, and the spouse of filmmaker Spike Lee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=St. John |first1=Warren |title=His Life Was Like a Novel, But Bad Guys Make Better Stories |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/style/his-life-was-like-a-novel-but-bad-guys-make-better-stories.html |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=NY Times |publisher=The New York Times |date=1 August 2004}}</ref> First envisioned as a television series that would profile upper-class black New Yorkers, the pair shifted to realizing the story, ''Gotham Diaries'', in 2004, as a social satire novel, due to events of 9/11 disrupting plans. The book won Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year in 2005, and returned her to The New York Times Bestseller List.<ref name=Orlov>{{cite book |author1=Zorlan Orlov|title=How you can reach wealth by using proven millionaires ideas |date=2007 |publisher=First Net Success |isbn=978-953-95909-0-9 |page=225 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMl3NLVjrwwC&pg=PT225|access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref> ''Gotham Diaries'' is also noted for contributing to an emerging genre of fiction, "black chick-lit".<ref name=pubwkly/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ogunnaike |first1=Lola |title= Black Writers Seize Glamorous Ground Around 'Chick Lit'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/31/us/black-writers-seize-glamorous-ground-around-chick-lit.html |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=NY Times |publisher=The New York Times |date=31 May 2004}}</ref>
In 2012, her book, ''Inspiration: Profiles of Black Women Changing Our World'' with her producing partner Nathan Hale Williams<ref name=crains/> and photography by Lauri Lyons was published.<ref name=amsterdam>{{cite news |title=Very McCrary: Crystal McCrary taking over media|url=https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2012/03/01/very-mccrary-crystal-mccrary-taking-over-media/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=Amsterdam News |publisher=Amsterdam News |date=1 March 2012}}</ref><ref name=BET>{{cite web |last=Pond|first=Neil|title=Inspiration: Profiles of Black Women Changing Our World|url=https://americanprofile.com/articles/inspiration-profiles-of-black-women-changing-our-world/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |website=americanprofile.com|publisher=American Profile |date=2 March 2012}}</ref> She has also authored numerous magazine articles.<ref name=Orlov/>
===Entertainment industry=== She began a film career in 2006, as an executive producer, with Nathan Hale Williams, for the feature film ''Dirty Laundry'', which offers a perspective on homosexuality in Southern African-American families,<ref name=crains/> winning top honors, including Best Feature Film award, at the American Black Film Festival in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=George |title=THE MAKING OF AN INDIE |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/the-making-of-an-indie/2/ |website=blackenterprise.com |publisher=Black Enterprise |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=1 August 2007}}</ref> That year, when listed among the top 40 Under 40 by ''Crain’s New York Business'', Williams affectionately referred to McCrary McGuire as "a baby mogul in training".<ref name=crainsny/> In 2008, the film was nominated for a GLAAD Award.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Wesley |title=Hey, I'm Nathan Hale Williams |url=https://www.freshfruitmag.com/hey-im-nathan-hale-williams/ |website=freshfruitmag.com |publisher=Fresh Fruit Magazine |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=10 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Crystal McCrary |url=https://www.graciemansion.org/people/crystal-mccrary/ |website=graciemansion.org |publisher=Gracie Mansion Conservancy |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>
McCrary has developed projects with BET Networks, co-hosted ''My Two Cents'', and served as executive producer, in 2006, for reality show ''My Model Is Better Than Your Model'', and for the series ''Real-Life Divas'', which profiles African-American women and ran for four seasons. She was executive producer for documentary series ''Leading Women'' and ''Leading Men'', which earned an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2009. In 2015, she was commissioned to make a short film to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.<ref name=net>{{cite web |title=CRYSTAL MCCRARY MCGUIRE ON CREATIVITY, CAMPAIGNING AND THE CAUSES CLOSE TO HER HEART |url=https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/porter/article-4f3c76551d9df167/incredible-women/incredible-women/crystal-mccrary-mcguire |website=net-a-porter.com |publisher=NET-A-PORTER |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=19 May 2021}}</ref>
She has been featured in ''People'', ''Essence'' and ''Newsweek'',<ref name=Orlov/> and has also appeared as herself in a variety of productions, including ''Today'', ''Good Morning America'',<ref name=pubwkly>{{cite web |last1=Danford |first1=Natalie |title=In a Category Of Her Own |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20041011/24225-in-a-category-of-her-own.html |website=publishersweekly.com |publisher=Publishers Weekly |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=11 October 2004}}</ref> ''The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch'', in 2006, ''The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2'', in 2008, ''Closet Envy'', in 2010, and ''Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys'', during 2010 to 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=McCrary Anthony, Crystal |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccrary-anthony-crystal |website=Encyclopedia.com }}</ref> She appeared as a pop-culture commentator on ''American Morning'' for CNN in 2004 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Morning '90-Second Pop'; Bush Administration Believes Iran Secretly Trying to Build Nuclear Weapons |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ltm/date/2005-02-14/segment/02 |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=14 February 2005}}</ref> and on ''Verdict with Dan Abrams'' for NBC, in 2008, alongside Pat Buchanan and Lawrence O'Donnell, as a guest host for ''The View'',<ref>{{cite web |title=The View Season 10 Episode 76 Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kaye Ballard, guest co-host Crystal McCrary Anthony |url=https://www.yidio.com/show/the-view/season-10/episode-76/links.html |website=yidio.com |publisher=The View |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=20 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=SETOODEH |first1=Ramibn |title=How the Donald Trump–Rosie O'Donnell Feud Wreaked Havoc at The View |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/03/ladies-who-punch-the-explosive-inside-story-of-the-view-excerpt |website=vanityfair.com |publisher=Vanity Fair |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=22 March 2019}}</ref> and as a legal analyst for CNBC, Fox News, and Court TV (now truTV).<ref>{{cite web |title=Crystal McCrary, Greg Anthony's Ex-Wife: 5 Fast Facts |url=https://heavy.com/sports/2015/01/crystal-mccrary-greg-anthony-ex-wife-married-divorced-family-children-career-bio-author-lawyer-tv-producer-director/ |website=heavy.com |date=17 January 2015 |publisher=Heavy |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>
Her directorial debut was the AAU youth basketball documentary ''Little Ballers'' in 2013, which she also co-produced;<ref name=essence>{{cite web |last1=JACKSON |first1=CHARREAH K. |title='Little Ballers' Director On Making Dollars from Your Ideas |url=https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/essence-network-little-ballers-director-making-dollars-your-ideas/ |website=essence.com |publisher=Essence |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=27 October 2020}}</ref> it was televised by Nickelodeon in 2015,<ref>{{cite news |title='Little Ballers' premiers February 25 |url=https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2015/02/19/little-ballers-premiers-february-25/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=Amsterdam News |publisher=Amsterdam News |date=19 February 2015}}</ref> the first documentary to be aired on ''NickSports''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gamble |first1=J.R. |title=Little Ballers Is A Perfect Blend Of Guts, Glory And Growth…On a Kid's Tip. |url=https://theshadowleague.com/little-ballers-is-a-perfect-blend-of-guts-glory-and-growth-on-a-kid-s-tip/ |website=The Shadow League |publisher=Shadow League Digital |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=23 February 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Nickelodeon premiered her three-part docuseries, ''Little Ballers Indiana'', which chronicles six diverse, fledgling female basketball players in the hometown of WNBA player Skylar Diggins, South Bend, Indiana.<ref>{{cite web |title=What to Expect From Little Ballers Indiana |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/little-ballers-docuseries-wnba-skylar-diggins-premiere-nickelodeon-nicktoons/ |website=Black Enterprise |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>
In 2021, HBO Max premiered a reboot of ''Sex and the City'', titled ''And Just Like That...'', which introduced a recurring new character reportedly inspired by McCrary McGuire, named "Lisa Todd Wexley".{{cn|date=April 2023}}
== Personal life == McCrary was formerly married NBA player Greg Anthony, with whom she had two children, including Orlando Magic point guard Cole Anthony.<ref name="crains" /><ref>{{cite news |date=19 November 2020 |title=Orlando Magic pick Cole Anthony's NBA draft celebration included surprise Spike Lee cameo |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2020/11/18/spike-lee-makes-espn-cameo-cole-anthony-picked-nba-draft/3774929001/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=USA TODAY |publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Crystal McCrary McGuire on her son Cole Anthony's journey, her husband's run for NYC Mayor & more |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crystal-mccrary-mcguire-on-her-son-cole-anthonys-journey/id991391708?i=1000502774079 |access-date=17 November 2022 |website=Apple Podcasts |publisher=Bill Rhoden On Sports (BROSpod)}}</ref> She later married former Wall Street executive Ray McGuire, whom she joined on the 2021 New York City mayoral campaign trail.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 September 2017 |title=Top 200 Collectors 2021 RAYMOND J. MCGUIRE AND CRYSTAL MCCRARY |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-collectors/top-200-profiles/raymond-j-and-crystal-mccrary-mcguire/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |website=ArtNews |publisher=Art News}}</ref><ref name="net" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Cori |date=15 June 2021 |title=Crystal McGuire Explains Why Her Husband, Who's Running for NYC Mayor, Is Unapologetic In Supporting Black Women |url=https://www.essence.com/news/crystal-mccrary-mcguire-on-why-her-husbands-mayoral-platform-supports-black-and-brown-women/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |website=essence.com |publisher=Essence}}</ref> They have one son together.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flegenheimer |first1=Matt |date=10 February 2021 |title=The Upper Crust Has Its Candidate. Don't Call Him 'the Black Bloomberg.' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/nyregion/Raymond-McGuire-New-York-Mayor.html |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=NY Times |publisher=The New York Times}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:McCrary, Crystal}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Detroit Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:American University Washington College of Law alumni Category:New York University School of Law alumni Category:American women lawyers Category:American women novelists Category:American women writers Category:American women film producers Category:American women film directors Category:American women documentary filmmakers