Gender
Male
Born
Apr 13, 1937
Lebanon, Missouri, USA
Died
Mar 24, 2011
Wayne, New Jersey, USA
Producer Writer Presenter Other
See Also
Comments
Biography: Lanford Wilson was born on April 13, 1937 in Lebanon, Missouri to Ralph Eugene and Violetta Tate Wilson. He took classes at San Diego State College and the University of Chicago. Much of his work began Off Off Broadway. He co-founded the Circle Repertory Company. He also wrote the texts for several 20th-century operas.

Film/TV Credits: Film credits include: "Lemon Sky" and "Special Thanks to Roy London." Television credits include: "Great Performances," "American Playhouse," "Hot L Baltimore," "ITV Sunday Night Theatre," "Redwood Curtain," "NET Playhouse," "The Migrants," "Working in the Theatre," and "In the Life."

Other Awards: Pulitzer Prize for drama for "Talley's Folly" in 1980. Received the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award for a Master American Dramatist in 2004.

Trivia:
He played Tom in his high school's production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.
The marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor on March 30, 2011.
  • CREDITS
    Burn This (Apr 16, 2019 - Jul 14, 2019)
    Play, Revival
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
    The Three Sisters (Feb 13, 1997 - Apr 06, 1997)
    Play, Revival
    • Translated by Lanford Wilson
    Master Class (Nov 05, 1995 - Jun 29, 1997)
    Play, Original
    • Originally commissioned by The Circle Repertory Company
    Redwood Curtain (Mar 30, 1993 - May 02, 1993)
    Play, Original
    • Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
      See Full Producer List
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    • Commissioned by The Circle Repertory Company
    Prelude to a Kiss (May 01, 1990 - May 19, 1991)
    Play, Original
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company; Commissioned and originally produced by South Coast Repertory (David Emmes, Producing Artistic Director, Martin Benson, Artistic Director)
    Burn This (Oct 14, 1987 - Oct 29, 1988)
    Play, Original
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company and Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, Artistic Director; William P. Wingate, General Manager)
    The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Apr 06, 1987 - Aug 01, 1987)
    Play, Original
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    As Is (May 01, 1985 - Jan 04, 1986)
    Play, Original
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company and The Glines (John Glines, Co-founder & Artistic Director; Lawrence Lane, Managing Director)
    Angels Fall (Jan 22, 1983 - Mar 13, 1983)
    Play, Original
    Fifth of July (Nov 05, 1980 - Jan 24, 1982)
    Play, Original
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
    • Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
    Talley's Folly (Feb 20, 1980 - Oct 19, 1980)
    Play, Original
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
    • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    Gemini (May 21, 1977 - Sep 06, 1981)
    Play, Original
    Knock Knock (Feb 24, 1976 - Jul 03, 1976)
    Play, Original
    The Gingham Dog (Apr 23, 1969 - Apr 26, 1969)
    Play, Original
    • Written by Lanford Wilson
  • AWARDS

    Tony Award®

     

    Best Play

    1983 | Nominee  | Angels Fall
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    See Full Producer List
     

    Best Play

    1981 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
    Written by Lanford Wilson
     

    Best Play

    1980 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
    Written by Lanford Wilson

    Pulitzer Prize

    for Drama

    1980 | Winner  | Talley's Folly
    Written by Lanford Wilson

    Drama Desk Award

     

    Outstanding New Play

    1993 | Nominee
    The Circle Repertory Company (for "Three Hotels")
     

    Outstanding New Play

    1989 | Nominee
    The Circle Repertory Company (for "Reckless")
     

    Outstanding Revival

    1985 | Nominee
    The Circle Repertory Company (for "Balm in Gilead")
     

    Outstanding New Play

    1981 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
     

    Outstanding New Play

    1980 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
     

    Outstanding New Play

    1979 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
     

    Outstanding New Play

    1978 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Written by Lanford Wilson
    Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
     

    Outstanding New Play (American)

    1977 | Nominee  | Gemini
    Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    See Full Producer List

    Vernon Rice Award

    1974 | Winner
    The Circle Repertory Company

    Vernon Rice-Drama Desk Award

    1967 | Winner
    Lanford Wilson (for his play "The Rimers of Eldrich")

    Theatre World

    Special Award

    1979 | Recipient
    The Circle Repertory Company (for an enviable ten-year record in discovering and encouraging new talent)
Burn This (Apr 16, 2019 - Jul 14, 2019)
Play, Revival
  • Written by Lanford Wilson
The Three Sisters (Feb 13, 1997 - Apr 06, 1997)
Play, Revival
  • Translated by Lanford Wilson
Master Class (Nov 05, 1995 - Jun 29, 1997)
Play, Original
  • Originally commissioned by The Circle Repertory Company
Redwood Curtain (Mar 30, 1993 - May 02, 1993)
Play, Original
  • Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
    See Full Producer List
  • Written by Lanford Wilson
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
  • Commissioned by The Circle Repertory Company
Prelude to a Kiss (May 01, 1990 - May 19, 1991)
Play, Original
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company; Commissioned and originally produced by South Coast Repertory (David Emmes, Producing Artistic Director, Martin Benson, Artistic Director)
Burn This (Oct 14, 1987 - Oct 29, 1988)
Play, Original
  • Written by Lanford Wilson
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company and Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, Artistic Director; William P. Wingate, General Manager)
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Apr 06, 1987 - Aug 01, 1987)
Play, Original
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
As Is (May 01, 1985 - Jan 04, 1986)
Play, Original
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company and The Glines (John Glines, Co-founder & Artistic Director; Lawrence Lane, Managing Director)
Angels Fall (Jan 22, 1983 - Mar 13, 1983)
Play, Original
Fifth of July (Nov 05, 1980 - Jan 24, 1982)
Play, Original
  • Written by Lanford Wilson
  • Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
Talley's Folly (Feb 20, 1980 - Oct 19, 1980)
Play, Original
  • Written by Lanford Wilson
  • Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
Gemini (May 21, 1977 - Sep 06, 1981)
Play, Original
Knock Knock (Feb 24, 1976 - Jul 03, 1976)
Play, Original
The Gingham Dog (Apr 23, 1969 - Apr 26, 1969)
Play, Original
  • Written by Lanford Wilson

Tony Award®

 

Best Play

1983 | Nominee  | Angels Fall
Written by Lanford Wilson
Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
See Full Producer List
 

Best Play

1981 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
Written by Lanford Wilson
 

Best Play

1980 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
Written by Lanford Wilson

Pulitzer Prize

for Drama

1980 | Winner  | Talley's Folly
Written by Lanford Wilson

Drama Desk Award

 

Outstanding New Play

1993 | Nominee
The Circle Repertory Company (for "Three Hotels")
 

Outstanding New Play

1989 | Nominee
The Circle Repertory Company (for "Reckless")
 

Outstanding Revival

1985 | Nominee
The Circle Repertory Company (for "Balm in Gilead")
 

Outstanding New Play

1981 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
Written by Lanford Wilson
Written by Lanford Wilson
Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
 

Outstanding New Play

1980 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
Written by Lanford Wilson
Written by Lanford Wilson
Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
 

Outstanding New Play

1979 | Nominee  | Talley's Folly
Written by Lanford Wilson
Written by Lanford Wilson
Originally produced by The Circle Repertory Company
 

Outstanding New Play

1978 | Nominee  | Fifth of July
Written by Lanford Wilson
Written by Lanford Wilson
Originally presented at The Circle Repertory Company
 

Outstanding New Play (American)

1977 | Nominee  | Gemini
Produced by The Circle Repertory Company
See Full Producer List

Vernon Rice Award

1974 | Winner
The Circle Repertory Company

Vernon Rice-Drama Desk Award

1967 | Winner
Lanford Wilson (for his play "The Rimers of Eldrich")

Theatre World

Special Award

1979 | Recipient
The Circle Repertory Company (for an enviable ten-year record in discovering and encouraging new talent)

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