David Mamet was born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, where he would later establish the St Nicholas Theatre Company in 1972, serving as their resident writer for four years. His early work, including "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" (1974) and "American Buffalo" (1975),gained international recognition and earned him the Obie Award for the latter when it transferred from Chicago to New York.
Mamet's subsequent plays, such as "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1984),which won the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, and "A Life in the Theatre" (1977),"Edmond" (1982),"The Shawl" (1985),and "Speed the Plow" (1988),solidified his reputation as a prominent playwright.
In addition to his work on stage, Mamet made a successful transition to screenwriting, with notable adaptations including "About Last Night" (1986),based on his original play, and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1981),which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His subsequent screenplays, including "The Untouchables" (1987),"We're No Angels" (1990),and "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992),further showcased his versatility.
Mamet has also ventured into directing, with notable films such as "House of Games" (1987),"Things Change" (1988),and "Homicide" (1991). Furthermore, he has published two collections of essays, "Writing in Restaurants" (1986) and "Some Freaks" (1989),and conducted a series of classes at Columbia University Film School, which were later compiled into the book "On Directing Film" (1992).
