August Wilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Frederick August Kittel Jr. April 27, 1945 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 2, 2005 (aged 60) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery |
| Occupation | Author, playwright |
| Notable works | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984) Fences (1987) Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1988) The Piano Lesson (1990) |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1987, 1990) Whiting Award (1986) Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities (2004) |
| Spouse | Brenda Burton
(m. 1969; div. 1972)Judy Oliver
(m. 1981; div. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
August Wilson (né Frederick August Kittel Jr.; April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America".[1] He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called The Pittsburgh Cycle (or The Century Cycle), which chronicle the experiences and heritage of the African-American community in the 20th century. Plays in the series include Fences (1987) and The Piano Lesson (1990), both of which won Wilson the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984) and Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1988). In 2006, Wilson was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
Other themes range from the systemic and historical exploitation of African Americans, race relations, identity, migration, and racial discrimination. Viola Davis said that Wilson's writing "captures our humor, our vulnerabilities, our tragedies, our trauma. And he humanizes us. And he allows us to talk."[2] Since Wilson's death, three of his plays have been adapted or re-adapted into films: Fences (2016), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) and The Piano Lesson (2024). Denzel Washington has shepherded the films and has vowed to continue Wilson's legacy by adapting the rest of his plays into films for a wider audience.[3] Washington said, "the greatest part of what's left of my career is making sure that August is taken care of".[4]
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (October 3, 2005). "August Wilson, Theater's Poet of Black America, Is Dead at 60 (Published 2005)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Denzel Washington on bringing August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" to the screen". CBS News. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Gratzinger, Ollie (August 14, 2022). "Denzel Washington Honors August Wilson's Legacy at House Opening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ Sullivan, Lindsey (October 2, 2020). "Denzel Washington Wants Samuel L. Jackson to Star in Film of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson". Playbill. Retrieved December 24, 2020.