This article is about the late-20th-century writer. For the late-19th-century writer Augusta J. Evans Wilson, see Augusta Wilson. For the United States Navy sailor, see August Wilson (Medal of Honor).
August Wilson
Born
Frederick August Kittel Jr. (1945-04-27)April 27, 1945 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died
October 2, 2005(2005-10-02) (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)
Constanza Romero
(m. 1994)
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 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.
His works delve into the African-American experience as well as examine the human condition. 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, two of his plays have been adapted into films: Fences (2016) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020). 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.
AugustWilson (né Frederick August Kittel Jr.; April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's...
The AugustWilson Theatre (formerly the Guild Theatre, ANTA Theatre, and Virginia Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 245 West 52nd Street in the Theater...
Zachary Kapono Wilson (born August 3, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played...
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called...
The AugustWilson House is an historic home which is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It once belonged to the family of the famed African-American...
came to prominence as a character actor often performing the plays of AugustWilson. He has received nominations for two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award...
Byron AugustWilson (1918–1992) was an American mid-20th century artist and educator, known for his jewelry design. Wilson was born in Alameda, California...
The AugustWilson African American Cultural Center is a U.S. nonprofit arts organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that presents performing and...
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL)...
in the 2001 Broadway production of AugustWilson's King Hedley II and Rose Maxson in the Broadway revival of Wilson's play Fences (2010). The drama Doubt...
Ann Dustin Wilson (born June 19, 1950) is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead singer of the rock band Heart. Wilson has been a member...
Award for Best Actor in a Play for starring in the Broadway revival of AugustWilson's play Fences in 2010. Washington later directed, produced, and starred...
Patrick Joseph Wilson (born July 3, 1973) is an American actor. He began his career in 1995, starring in Broadway musicals. He received nominations for...
Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an American actor. He has frequently worked with filmmaker Wes Anderson, with whom he has shared writing...
(1999–2004). In the 21st century, she has directed revivals of three plays by AugustWilson, in major theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey; and Los Angeles...
Lambert Nicolas Wilson (French pronunciation: [lɑ̃bɛʁ wilsɔn]; born Willson, 3 August 1958) is a French actor. He is best known internationally for his...
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States...
a 1987 play by American playwright AugustWilson. It is the fourth play in Wilson's The Pittsburgh Cycle. Wilson began writing this play by playing with...
Lightning. On 19 August 2011, Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter reported that Wilson had replaced Casey Wilson in Bachelorette. In 2012, Wilson voiced a character...
oversees five Broadway theatres including the St. James, Al Hirschfeld, AugustWilson, Eugene O'Neill, and the Walter Kerr. Born in New York City, Roth spent...
Mara Wilson (born July 24, 1987) is an American actress. She rose to prominence as a child actress playing Natalie Hillard in the film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)...