Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams - Playwrights, Life Achievements and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › AmericanTennessee WilliamsMarch 26, 19114,746 views

0 based on 0 rates
Tennessee Williams Biography Stories 

Tennessee Williams's Personal Details

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century

InformationDetail
BirthdayMarch 26, 1911
Died onFebruary 25, 1983
NationalityAmerican
FamousAlcoholics, Gays, Writers, Playwrights, Playwrights
City/StateIowa, Mississippi
SiblingsDakin Williams, Rose Williams
Known asTennessee Williams
Universities
  • Soldan High School
  • University City High School
  • University of Missouri
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • University of Iowa
  • Dramatic Workshop of The New School
Birth PlaceColumbus, Mississippi, United States
GenderMale
FatherCornelius Coffin Williams
MotherEdwina Williams
Sun SignAries
Born inColumbus, Mississippi, United States
Famous asAmerican playwright
Died at Age71

// Famous Playwrights

August Wilson

August Wilson

August Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize winning play writer, who is known to have authored the ten play series, The Pittsburgh Cycle. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, profile, life and timeline.

Robert Browning

Robert Browning

Robert Browning was a famous English poet and playwright. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.

J. B. Priestley

J. B. Priestley

J.B. Priestley was a famous English novelist, broadcaster and playwright. Go through this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Tennessee Williams's photo

Who is Tennessee Williams?

Tennessee Williams, one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, was the man behind unforgettable characters like Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. He gave the audience characters that they were going to remember for the rest of their life. His plays were a crystal clear vision of the life down South and the different forms and strata of the human society. He has been rightly called the Master playwright, the greatest Southern playwright in the history of American Drama. Just like his characters, he too was troubled and self-destructive. He was addicted to drugs and was a hardcore alcoholic. His plays are autobiographical in nature and we can see glimpses of his own life in his plays. He was a fan of the concept called ‘poetic realism’—when one watches the same thing over and over again, the act seems to take on a symbolic meaning after some time. His plays were filled with extremities which were justified because he believed they were a part of the human condition. What Williams wrote was very honest and came from a heart that had endured everything that he wrote about. His vulnerability was what that made his work so much more important. His genius lay in his heartfelt struggle to tell the world his innermost stories.

// Famous Playwrights

John Kani

John Kani

John Kani is a South African actor, voice actor, playwright and director. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, theatre director and poet. This biography profiles his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline

Oliver Goldsmith

Oliver Goldsmith

Oliver Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish essayist and novelist of the 18th century. Go through this biography to know in details about his life, profile, childhood and timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born Thomas Lanier Williams in Mississippi to Edwina and Cornelius Coffin Williams. He was the second of three children. He was of English, Welsh and Huguenot descent. His father was a shoe salesman who was always travelling.

When he was young he suffered from diphtheria which nearly killed him and left him weak, fragile and confined indoors. He gained inspiration from his rough childhood and dysfunctional family.

While attending high school he started writing a number of essays which were published in school magazines and newspapers.

He attended the University of Missouri from 1929 to 1931 to study Journalism. In order to earn some extra money, he entered into writing contests. His first submitted play was ‘Beauty Is the Word’ (1930) followed by ‘Hot Milk at Three in the Morning’ (1932).

At the university he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity but it did not work out. After failing a military training course, he was pulled out and made to work at the International Shoe Company by his father. The hatred he felt towards his work made him write even more vigorously.

By the age of 24, he had suffered enough and in 1936 he enrolled at the Washington University. Later he joined the University of Iowa and got a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He also studied at the Dramatic Workshop in New York.

Career

After graduation he moved to New Orleans to start a new life. He started going about with a new name- Tennessee.

All through 1940’s he traveled around new places with different jobs.

In 1944, his play ‘The Glass Menagerie’ won the New York Critics Circle Awards. It became an instant success and had a long Broadway run as well.

His next play was an even greater success. This play marked his arrival; ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ in 1947 secured his reputation as a great playwright.

From 1948 to 1959, Williams was an unstoppable force. Seven of his plays were performed in Broadway including ‘Summer and Smoke’ (1948), ‘The Rose Tattoo’ (1951), and ‘Orpheus Descending’ (1957).

He enjoyed a lot of success from the 1940’s up to the 1960’s, but the 1970’s was a difficult time for Williams. His misuse of alcohol and drug lowered the quality of his plays. The death of his partner Merlo and the continuous trips to and from the treatment facilities took a toll on his work.

His last play “A House Not Meant to Stand’ (1982) was a huge hit and received very good reviews; however it could run for only 40 performances.

Major Works

His first critical and commercial success was ‘The Glass Menagerie’ in 1944. This play is said to be autobiographical with characters and instances from his personal life. This play set the tone for Williams and marked the arrival of the great playwright.

The 1947 play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ was a reminder of the time when he was taken out of school and forced by his father to slog at the shoe company. The protagonist Stanley Kowalski is in a similar situation and most of the plots are taken from his own personal life.

‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ was a story of a Southern family in crisis. It sheds light on superficiality, sexual desire, repression and death. The dialogue has been written in such a way that phonetically it represents the Southern United states.

Awards & Achievements

‘The Glass Menagerie’ won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945. It is said to be the strongest play ever produced by Tennessee.

In 1948, the play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and also the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Best Play.

One of his best works and personal favourite, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. The play was later adapted into a motion picture starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

Personal Life & Legacy

He was very close to his sister Rose who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Williams moved her to a private institution and visited her often.

A homosexual, Williams had accepted his sexual orientation by 1930 and joined a gay circle. From 1940–47, he was in a few relationships but they didn’t work out.

He met Frank Merlo, with whom he had a long and loving relationship for 14 years until his disloyalty and drug problems started. Williams was most happy when he was with Merlo.

After their breakup, Merlo was diagnosed with lung cancer and he died on 21 September 1963. His death plunged Williams into a deep depression from which he could never recover.

He was found dead in his suite at the Elysee Hotel in New York at the age of 71 in February 1983. He is said to have choked to death on the cap from a bottle of eye-drops.

The Tennessee Williams Theater in Key West, Florida is named after him.

He was also honored by the U.S Postal Service by issuing a stamp in his honour in 1994 as part of their literary arts series.

Trivia

He has been honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

The 100th anniversary of his birth was celebrated from February 1 to July 21, 2011 by the Harry Ransom Center which exhibited 250 of his personal items.

// Famous Alcoholics

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson is a former heavyweight boxing champion, known for his ferocious and intimidating style. Read this biography to know about his life, profile & timeline.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is a Grammy Award winning country music singer and guitarist. This biography of Keith Urban provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American guitarist, musician, singer and songwriter and the founding member of the band ‘Double Trouble’. This biography profiles his childhood, music career, life, achievements and timeline.

Tennessee Williams's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01959 - New York Drama Critics' Circle Award
0 - New York Drama Critics' Circle Award
0 1959 - Donaldson Award
0 1959 - Tony Award

Tennessee Williams biography timelines

  • // 26th Mar 1911
    He was born Thomas Lanier Williams in Mississippi to Edwina and Cornelius Coffin Williams. He was the second of three children. He was of English, Welsh and Huguenot descent. His father was a shoe salesman who was always travelling.
  • // 1929 To 1931
    He attended the University of Missouri from 1929 to 1931 to study Journalism. In order to earn some extra money, he entered into writing contests. His first submitted play was ‘Beauty Is the Word’ (1930) followed by ‘Hot Milk at Three in the Morning’ (1932).
  • // 1936
    By the age of 24, he had suffered enough and in 1936 he enrolled at the Washington University. Later he joined the University of Iowa and got a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He also studied at the Dramatic Workshop in New York.
  • // 1940 To 1947
    A homosexual, Williams had accepted his sexual orientation by 1930 and joined a gay circle. From 1940–47, he was in a few relationships but they didn’t work out.
  • // 1944
    In 1944, his play ‘The Glass Menagerie’ won the New York Critics Circle Awards. It became an instant success and had a long Broadway run as well.
  • // 1945
    ‘The Glass Menagerie’ won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945. It is said to be the strongest play ever produced by Tennessee.
  • // 1947
    His next play was an even greater success. This play marked his arrival; ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ in 1947 secured his reputation as a great playwright.
  • // 1948 To 1959
    From 1948 to 1959, Williams was an unstoppable force. Seven of his plays were performed in Broadway including ‘Summer and Smoke’ (1948), ‘The Rose Tattoo’ (1951), and ‘Orpheus Descending’ (1957).
  • // 1948
    In 1948, the play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and also the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Best Play.
  • // 1955
    One of his best works and personal favourite, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. The play was later adapted into a motion picture starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.
  • // 1982
    His last play “A House Not Meant to Stand’ (1982) was a huge hit and received very good reviews; however it could run for only 40 performances.
  • // 25th Feb 1983
    He was found dead in his suite at the Elysee Hotel in New York at the age of 71 in February 1983. He is said to have choked to death on the cap from a bottle of eye-drops.

// Famous Gays

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar

Cam Leo Varadkar is the current Taoiseach—the Prime Minister—of the Republic of Ireland. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin is a prominent Puerto Rican pop singer, songwriter and actor, who was a singing sensation during the 1990s. This biography profiles his childhood, life, music career, achievements and timeline

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is a comedian, actor, author, television and radio presenter. Read the biography and know all about his childhood, career, profile and timeline.

Willam Belli

Willam Belli

Willam Belli is an American actor, drag queen, model and reality TV personality. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Alan Bates

Alan Bates

Sir Alan Arthur Bates was an English actor considered amongst the finest performers of his generation. This biography of Alan Bates provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Tennessee Williams's FAQ

  • What is Tennessee Williams birthday?

    Tennessee Williams was born at 1911-03-26

  • When was Tennessee Williams died?

    Tennessee Williams was died at 1983-02-25

  • Where was Tennessee Williams died?

    Tennessee Williams was died in New York City

  • Which age was Tennessee Williams died?

    Tennessee Williams was died at age 71

  • Where is Tennessee Williams's birth place?

    Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus, Mississippi, United States

  • What is Tennessee Williams nationalities?

    Tennessee Williams's nationalities is American

  • Who is Tennessee Williams siblings?

    Tennessee Williams's siblings is Dakin Williams, Rose Williams

  • What was Tennessee Williams universities?

    Tennessee Williams studied at Soldan High School, University City High School, University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Iowa, Dramatic Workshop of The New School

  • Who is Tennessee Williams's father?

    Tennessee Williams's father is Cornelius Coffin Williams

  • Who is Tennessee Williams's mother?

    Tennessee Williams's mother is Edwina Williams

  • What is Tennessee Williams's sun sign?

    Tennessee Williams is Aries

  • How famous is Tennessee Williams?

    Tennessee Williams is famouse as American playwright