Edgar Allan Woolf, a renowned American playwright and screenwriter, is best known for his work on the iconic fantasy film "The Wizard of Oz" (1939).
Born in New York City, Woolf was the son of inventor Albert E. Woolf and his wife Rosamond Wimpfheimer. His father was an innovative electrical device inventor.
Woolf's educational background consisted of studying at both the City College of New York and Columbia University, where he graduated in 1901 at the age of 20. During his college years, he began writing plays, and in his senior year, he penned "The Mischief Maker", which was produced as Columbia's annual varsity show.
Following his graduation, Woolf pursued an acting career, joining the Murray Hill Stock Company as an actor and performing in New York City for several years. He eventually transitioned from acting to writing, crafting sketches and plays for vaudeville performers, including notable acts such as Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Pat Rooney, and Mitzi Hajos.
In 1906, Woolf wrote the book for the musical revue "Mam'zelle Champagne", which gained fame not for its content but for a murder that occurred at its opening night in the theater. The publicity surrounding the event helped attract attention to the revue, which ran for 60 performances.
In the 1930s, Woolf relocated from New York City to Los Angeles, where he was hired as a screenwriter for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He frequently collaborated with Florence Ryerson, and the duo co-wrote "The Wizard of Oz" and created the character of Professor Marvel.
Woolf was also known for hosting dinner parties and personally cooking for his guests, which included fellow writers and directors.
Tragically, Woolf's life came to an abrupt end in 1943. While taking daily walks with his pet dog, he tripped on the leash and fell down the stairs at his Beverly Hills residence, suffering a fatal skull fracture. He was 62 years old at the time of his death.
