August Wilson - Playwrights, Family and Facts
August Wilson's Personal Details
August Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize winning play writer, who is known to have authored the ten play series, The Pittsburgh Cycle
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 27, 1945 |
| Died on | October 2, 2005 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Authors, Black Authors, Writers, Playwrights |
| Spouses | Brenda Burton (m.1969-1972), Constanza Romero (m.1994-2005), Judy Oliver (m.1981-1990) |
| Siblings | Barbara Jean Wilson, Donna Conley, Edwin Kittel, Freda Ellis, Linda Jean Kittel, Richard Kittel |
| Childrens | Azula Carmen Wilson, Sakina Ansari |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Frederick August Kittel Sr. |
| Mother | Daisy Wilson |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Famous as | American playwright |
| Died at Age | 60 |
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August Wilson's photo
Who is August Wilson?
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning, critically acclaimed African-American playwright, August Wilson was one of the leading writers of the twentieth century, who highlighted the struggles of African-American community. A victim of racial discrimination himself, Wilson was terrified in his childhood as he experienced traumatic episodes of racism in school. Not only was he expelled from school for being the only African-American, he was threatened and abused to the point of being physically attacked as well. It were these experiences that left a deep impact on young Wilson, so much so that he started expressing his feelings through his writings. One of the first African-American men to enjoy success on Broadway, Wilson has played a crucial role in shaping the African-American movement and highlighting their sorrowful plight to people across the world. Some of his well-known plays include, ‘Jitney’, ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’, ‘The Piano Lesson’, ‘Fences’, all of which are part of his acclaimed ten-play collection titled, ‘The Pittsburgh Cycle’. With such an extravagant history of writing, it is easy to conclude that August Wilson was undoubtedly one of the most influential writers of theatre in America.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as Frederick August Kittel, Jr. in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Frederick August Kittel, Sr., a pastry chef and baker and Daisy Wilson, a cleaning woman of African descent.
His childhood was rather humble. He was raised by his mother in a two-room apartment located above a grocery store, while his father was mostly not present.
In the 1950’s, his mother divorced his father and remarried and the two relocated to a white inhabited neighbourhood, where they faced much hostility and racial discrimination.
Wilson attended the Central Catholic High School in Pennsylvania, where he was the only African-American student and was eventually thrown out. He later enrolled at the Connelley Vocational High School.
By the time he turned 16, he dropped out of school and began to take up many odd jobs. He self-educated himself by reading extensively at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Career
In 1971, one of his first pieces of writing titled, ‘Bessie’, which was a poem that was published in the summer of that year in the ‘Black Lines’, an African American publication.
In 1973, he staged one of his first plays, titled, ‘Recycling’, which he wrote after he learnt the art of writing for stage from a library book. He made his debut in the field of playwriting with this one-act play.
In the year 1980, he finished writing the play, ‘Fullerton Street’, which was based on the fight between boxers, Joe Louis and Billy Conn. The play, however, remained unproduced and unpublished.
In 1982, Wilson came out with the two-act play titled, ‘Jitney’, which premiered at the Allegheny Repertory Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play later also went on off-Broadway in New York.
In 1982, he came out with the play titled, ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’, which was part of the Pulitzer Prize winning ten play series, ‘Pittsburgh Cycle’. The play premiered at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center at Waterford, Connecticut.
In 1983, he came out with his play, Fenses’, which was the sixth part of his ‘Pittsburgh Cycle’ collection. The plot of the play revolved around African-American experiences and race relations.
In 1984, his play, ‘Joe Turner's Come and Gone’ premiered at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. The play also opened on Broadway on March 27th that year.
‘The Piano Lesson’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut on November 26, 1987. This play was set in Pittsburgh during the time of the Great Depression.
In 1990, his wrote the drama titled, ‘Two Trains Running’, which was set in an African-American neighbourhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play also premiered on Broadway.
In 1996, his play, ‘Seven Guitars’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. A tragic comedy, it highlighted the life of seven African-American characters.
On December 11, 1999 his play titled, ‘King Hedley II’ premiered at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play ran on Broadway and off-Broadway.
In 2003, his play drama titled, ‘Gem of the Ocean’ was screened at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL. The play revolved around the experiences of African-American in the twentieth century.
In 2005, his play, ‘Radio Golf’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. Two years later, the play also premiered on Broadway.
Major Works
His play ‘Jitney’ was the recipient of the Outer Critics Circle Award in the year 2001 in the category of ‘Outstanding Off-Broadway Play’. The play also received the Laurence Olivier Award for the category of ‘Best New Play’.
He is the author of the ten play collection titled, ‘The Pittsburgh Cycle’, which received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Many theatres around the world have produced these ten plays, including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company.
Awards & Achievements
In 1985, he was the recipient of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the category of ‘Best Play’ for ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’.
In 1987, he was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his play, ‘Fences’.
In 1990, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, ‘The Piano Lesson’.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1969, he married Brenda Burton, who was a Muslim. He also converted to the faith and the couple had a daughter together. Unfortunately the two divorced in 1972.
In 1981, he married social worker, Judy Oliver. They divorced in the year 1990.
In 1994, he married costume designer, Constanza Romero with whom he had a daughter.
He died at the age of 60, due to liver cancer at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
While his home has been turned into a historic landmark, several streets and theatres have been renamed post his death to honor this able and gifted playwright.
Trivia
He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, once in 1987 for ‘Fences’ and the other in 1990 for ‘The Piano Lesson’.
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August Wilson's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1988 | New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
| 1990 | Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Distinguished Pennsylvania Artists | |
| 1990 | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play | |
| 1990 | New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
| 1990 | Pulitzer Prize for Drama | |
| 1992 | New York Drama Critics Circle Citation for Best American Play | |
| 1996 | New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
| 2000 | New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
| 2000 | Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play | |
| 2002 | Olivier Award for Best new Play | |
| 0 | ||
| 0 | 1985 - New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
| 0 | 1987 - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play | |
| 0 | 1987 - New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play | |
August Wilson biography timelines
- // 27th Apr 1945He was born as Frederick August Kittel, Jr. in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Frederick August Kittel, Sr., a pastry chef and baker and Daisy Wilson, a cleaning woman of African descent.
- // 1969 To 1972In 1969, he married Brenda Burton, who was a Muslim. He also converted to the faith and the couple had a daughter together. Unfortunately the two divorced in 1972.
- // 1971In 1971, one of his first pieces of writing titled, ‘Bessie’, which was a poem that was published in the summer of that year in the ‘Black Lines’, an African American publication.
- // 1973In 1973, he staged one of his first plays, titled, ‘Recycling’, which he wrote after he learnt the art of writing for stage from a library book. He made his debut in the field of playwriting with this one-act play.
- // 1980In the year 1980, he finished writing the play, ‘Fullerton Street’, which was based on the fight between boxers, Joe Louis and Billy Conn. The play, however, remained unproduced and unpublished.
- // 1981 To 1990In 1981, he married social worker, Judy Oliver. They divorced in the year 1990.
- // 1982In 1982, Wilson came out with the two-act play titled, ‘Jitney’, which premiered at the Allegheny Repertory Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play later also went on off-Broadway in New York.
- // 1982In 1982, he came out with the play titled, ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’, which was part of the Pulitzer Prize winning ten play series, ‘Pittsburgh Cycle’. The play premiered at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center at Waterford, Connecticut.
- // 1983In 1983, he came out with his play, Fenses’, which was the sixth part of his ‘Pittsburgh Cycle’ collection. The plot of the play revolved around African-American experiences and race relations.
- // 1984In 1984, his play, ‘Joe Turner's Come and Gone’ premiered at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. The play also opened on Broadway on March 27th that year.
- // 1985In 1985, he was the recipient of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the category of ‘Best Play’ for ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’.
- // 1987‘The Piano Lesson’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut on November 26, 1987. This play was set in Pittsburgh during the time of the Great Depression.
- // 1987In 1987, he was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his play, ‘Fences’.
- // 1990In 1990, his wrote the drama titled, ‘Two Trains Running’, which was set in an African-American neighbourhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play also premiered on Broadway.
- // 1990In 1990, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, ‘The Piano Lesson’.
- // 1994In 1994, he married costume designer, Constanza Romero with whom he had a daughter.
- // 1996In 1996, his play, ‘Seven Guitars’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. A tragic comedy, it highlighted the life of seven African-American characters.
- // 1999On December 11, 1999 his play titled, ‘King Hedley II’ premiered at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play ran on Broadway and off-Broadway.
- // 2001His play ‘Jitney’ was the recipient of the Outer Critics Circle Award in the year 2001 in the category of ‘Outstanding Off-Broadway Play’. The play also received the Laurence Olivier Award for the category of ‘Best New Play’.
- // 2003In 2003, his play drama titled, ‘Gem of the Ocean’ was screened at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL. The play revolved around the experiences of African-American in the twentieth century.
- // 2005In 2005, his play, ‘Radio Golf’ premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. Two years later, the play also premiered on Broadway.
- // 2nd Oct 2005He died at the age of 60, due to liver cancer at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
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August Wilson's FAQ
What is August Wilson birthday?
August Wilson was born at 1945-04-27
When was August Wilson died?
August Wilson was died at 2005-10-02
Where was August Wilson died?
August Wilson was died in Seattle, Washington, USA
Which age was August Wilson died?
August Wilson was died at age 60
Where is August Wilson's birth place?
August Wilson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
What is August Wilson nationalities?
August Wilson's nationalities is American
Who is August Wilson spouses?
August Wilson's spouses is Brenda Burton (m.1969-1972), Constanza Romero (m.1994-2005), Judy Oliver (m.1981-1990)
Who is August Wilson siblings?
August Wilson's siblings is Barbara Jean Wilson, Donna Conley, Edwin Kittel, Freda Ellis, Linda Jean Kittel, Richard Kittel
Who is August Wilson childrens?
August Wilson's childrens is Azula Carmen Wilson, Sakina Ansari
What was August Wilson universities?
August Wilson studied at Central Catholic High School, Connelley Vocational High School, Gladstone High School
Who is August Wilson's father?
August Wilson's father is Frederick August Kittel Sr.
Who is August Wilson's mother?
August Wilson's mother is Daisy Wilson
What is August Wilson's sun sign?
August Wilson is Taurus
How famous is August Wilson?
August Wilson is famouse as American playwright