From Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur to Tennessee Williams to David Mamet and Wendy Wasserstein, American playwrights have succumbed at one time or another to the lure of Hollywood. Some find success and remain, others decamp for the nearest stage while still others straddle the media, turning out fine work for both. Kenneth Lonergan joined that long line in the 1990s, selling a spec script that eventually was made into the comedy "Analyze This" (1999) and garnering accolades and acclaim for his stage dramas tinged with autobiographical elements.The son of a doctor and a psychoanalyst,
Attended The Walden School; first met Matthew Broderick
1982
Won the first Young Playwrights Festival Award with play "The Rennings Children"
After graduating from NYU, became member of the Naked Angels theater company, where his plays were performed
To support himself, wrote speeches for the Environmental Protection Agency and Weight Watchers, video presentations for Grace Chemicals, and comedy sketches for Fuji Films sales meetings
