August Wilson

Writing

Born April 27, 1945 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Died October 2, 2005

Biography

August Wilson was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America". He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called The Pittsburgh 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), each 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.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

Awards & recognition

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards · 2005
Laurence Olivier Award — Best New Play · 2002
National Humanities Medal · 1999
Black Literary Hall of Fame · 1998
American Book Awards · 1992

Show all 39 awards →

Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame · 1991
St. Louis Literary Award · 1991
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1990
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 1990
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1987
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 1987
Tony Award — Best Play · 1987
Whiting Award (Drama) · 1986
Whiting Awards · 1986
Guggenheim Fellowship
Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2017 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 2007 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 2007 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 2005 · nominated
Laurence Olivier Award — Best New Play · 2002 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 2001 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 2000 · nominated
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 2000 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1996 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1996 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special · 1995 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Made for Television Movie · 1995 · nominated
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 1995 · nominated
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 1992 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1992 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1990 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1990 · nominated
Pulitzer Prize — Drama · 1989 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1988 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1988 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1987 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1987 · nominated
Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Play · 1985 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Play · 1985 · nominated