Celebrated playwright August Wilson has died at age 60

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05275/581562.stm

August Wilson, 60, one of America's greatest playwrights, died overnight at his home in Seattle.

Last December, Pittsburgh-born playwright August Wilson's thoughts turned to mortality. With his 60th birthday coming up on April 27, he said, "There's more behind me than ahead. I think of dying every day. At a certain age, you should be prepared to go at any time."

In May, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and in June his doctors determined it was inoperable. But in August he showed that he was indeed prepared, telling the Post-Gazette, "I've lived a blessed life. I'm ready."

The end came overnight when Mr. Wilson died at his home in Seattle.

<snip>

The fierce poignancy of his eulogy for Mordecai in September's American Theatre magazine sounds self-reflexive: "How do we transform loss? ... Time's healing balm is essentially a hoax. ... Haunted by the specter of my own death, I find solace in Ben's life."


August Wilson, right, talked with actor Anthony Chisholm during rehearsal of Wilson's play "Radio Golf" at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., in April. Wilson returned to Yale to complete this final work in his series of plays he began there chronicling the black experience in 20th- century America.

[no name no slogan]

1. OMFG this is sad

I wrote a major thesis in college on one of his plays (70+ pages). He was a hometown hero for me, as he spent many years as the playwrite in residence at the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul.

Damn. His loss is a huge blow to this country.

:cry:

[qanda]

2. So Sad!

RIP Mr. Wilson, you were one of Pittsburgh's finest.

[RamboLiberal]

3. Agreed - he was one of Pittsburgh's finest

What is amazing is he was basically self-educated. The sad story is that he was enrolled at what is now Central Catholic High School. He faced such prejudice and racial hatred there from students and faculty, he lied to his family and spent each day instead at Carnegie Library where he learned from the books in the library.

Rest in Peace Mr. Wilson, you left all of a great legacy of your plays.

[jayctravis]

4. A great of American Theatre.

From <http://www.dartmouth.edu/~awilson/bio.html>


Awards/Honors:
Award for best play of 1984-85 from New York Drama Critics Circle, 1985, Antoinette Perry ("Tony") Award nomination from League of New York Theatres and Producers, 1985, and Whiting Writers' Award from the Whiting Foundation, 1986, all for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Outstanding Play Award from American Theatre Critics, 1986, Drama Desk Outstanding New Play Award, 1986, New York Drama Critics Circle Best Play Award, 1986, Pulitzer Prize for drama, Antoinette Perry Award for best play, and award for best Broadway play from Outer Critics Circle, all 1987, all for Fences; John Gassner Award for best American playwright from Outer Critics Circle, 1987; named Artist of the Year by Chicago Tribune, 1987; Literary Lion Award from New York Public Library, 1988; New York Drama Critics Circle Best Play award, and Antoinette Perry Award nomination for best play, both 1988, both for Joe Turner's Come and Gone; Drama Desk Outstanding New Play Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Best Play Award, Antoinette Perry Award for Best Play, American Theatre Critics Outstanding Play Award, and Pulitzer Prize for drama, all 1990, all for The Piano Lesson; Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Award, 1991; Antoinette Perry Award nomination for best play, and American Theatre Critics' Association Award, both 1992, both for Two Trains Running; Clarence Muse Award, 1992; recipient of Bush and Guggenheim Foundation fellowships.

[goclark]

5. Met him two years ago

What a loss.

He was the guest at a lovely garden party.

For about an hour we were able to ask him anything about his life,his writing and his thoughts on current issues.


Brilliant, simply brilliant!
Adorable wife and young child were at the party with him.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. He wrote wonderful plays -- so real and so human. Thanks...

Mr. Wilson for your great gift, which you shared with those of us sitting in the theatre.

[aquart]

7. 60 is ridiculously young.

He was a genuine poet.

[MountainLaurel]

8. Damn.

:cry:

[JerseygirlCT]

9. I met him years and years ago

he was a gentle, kind man.

What a terrible loss!

[Divernan]

10. Sad news. His plays were so powerful, and moving.

NT

[henslee]

11. Just lookd up his bio/timeline. At age fourteen...,.,.

Drops out of Gladstone High School 10th grade when a teacher accuses him of plagiarizing a 20-page paper on Napoleon. Gets his own education at the library and on the street.

[Blue_Tires]

12. we read a couple of his works when i was in college

very sad