Tennessee Williams

Born:

March 26, 1911, Columbus, Mississippi, USA

Died:

February 25, 1983, New York City, New York, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Playwright, Screenwriter, Poet, Short Story Writer

Early Life and Education

• Born Thomas Lanier Williams III.
• Suffered from diphtheria as a child, which resulted in two years of near-invalidity.
• Family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when he was young.
• Attended the University of Missouri for journalism, but withdrew.
• Briefly worked for the International Shoe Company, a job he detested and from which he was eventually fired.
• Later attended Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Iowa, graduating from Iowa in 1938.

Career and Major Achievements

• Began writing plays professionally in the late 1930s.
• Rose to prominence with the success of The Glass Menagerie (1944).
• Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Streetcar Named Desire (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955).
• Received four New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards.
• His plays were often adapted into successful films.
• Experienced a period of critical decline in the 1960s and 1970s, but continued to write.

Notable Works

Legacy and Impact

Tennessee Williams is considered one of the most important American playwrights of the 20th century. His plays explore themes of psychological tension, sexuality, and the decay of the American South. The importance and enduring relevance of Williams' work has been examined by numerous scholars and artists, including in inua ellams biography of williams which provides insights into the playwright's life and creative process. His work continues to be performed and studied worldwide, influencing generations of writers and artists.

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