His play, "Superior Donuts," at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2012 Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Play Production.
Tracy Letts is an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. He is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play August: Osage County and the Tony Award-winning play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Letts was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Diane and Dennis Letts. His father was a high school English teacher and his mother was a homemaker. He has two sisters, Amy and Elizabeth. Letts was raised in Durant, Oklahoma, and graduated from Durant High School in 1984. He then attended Kansas State University, where he studied English and theatre.
After college, Letts moved to Chicago, where he began his career as a playwright. His first play, Killer Joe, was produced in 1993. The play was a success and was later adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch.
In 2006, Letts wrote the play August: Osage County, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play was later adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
In 2012, Letts wrote the play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which won the Tony Award for Best Play. The play was later adapted into a film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Letts has also written the screenplays for the films Bug (2006) and Killer Joe (2011). He has also appeared in the films The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), and Revolutionary Road (2008).
Letts is married to actress Carrie Coon. They have two children together.
General Info
Full Name
Tracy Letts
Date Of Birth
July 4, 1965
Profession
Screenwriter, Film producer, Playwright, Actor
Education
Durant High School
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Carrie Coon
Parents
Billie Letts, Dennis Letts
Siblings
Dana Letts, Shawn Letts
Accomplishments
Awards
Tony Award for Best Play, Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, Drama Desk Special Award, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play, Critics' Circle Theatre Award...
Nominations
Virgin Atlantic Best New Play, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Screenplay Award, Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Ac...
Movies
Imperium, Elvis & Nixon, Indignation, Christine, Wiener-Dog, August: Osage County, Killer Joe, Bug, Guinevere, Straight Talk, Lady Bird, The Lovers
[re August: Osage County (2013)] It was my decision to follow Barbara [daughter played by Julia Roberts] outside of the house at the end of the film, which is different from how the play ends...I want to correct that. The play ends with Violet alone in the house, and her daughters have left. That's how the movie ends, too. We made a decision that we're going to see more of what happens a little later. In my original screenplay, I think the way I had written Barbara in the car, it was a little darker, a little more obscure. [Director John Wells] made the choice not to film in that way. Staging is the director's prerogative in the film. It doesn't look exactly how I wrote it on the page, but I wrote it with Barbara leaving the house. There's a point where you throw your hands up and say: It's John's movie. You are not the ultimate authority in this construct.
2
[re August: Osage County (2013)]I know that there's another dimension in the film that is not in the play, and that's Osage County. I would take them [filmmakers] to my home and show them the landscape, that's kind of profound for me as a guy who not only has written a play, but written a play that's somewhat autobiographical. The landscape itself becomes a character.
Facts
#
Fact
1
His play, "August: Osage County," was awarded the 2010 Back Stage Garland Award for Production in a Steppenwolf Theatre Company production at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
2
He was awarded the 2010 Back Stage Garland Award for Playwriting for "August: Osage County" in a Steppenwolf Theatre Company production at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
3
Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
4
His play, "Superior Donuts," at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2012 Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Play Production.
5
He was nominated for a 2012 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for New Adaptation for "Three Sisters" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
6
His play, "Man from Nebraska" at the Redtwist Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was awarded the 2011 Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Production of a Play.
7
He was nominated for the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
8
His play, "Killer Joe," at the Profiles Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was awarded the 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award (Non-Equity Division) for Production of A Play.
9
He was nominated for a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for his performance in "American Buffalo" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
10
Nominated for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play "Man from Nebraska" and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play "August: Osage County".
11
His play, "Superior Donuts," at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2008 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work.
12
His play, "August: Osage County," at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois was awarded the 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work for a Play.
13
He was nominated for a 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "The Dresser" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
14
He was awarded the 2008 Tony Award for Best Original Play, "August: Osage County" performed first at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and at the Imperial Theater in New York City.
15
Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play "August: Osage County".
16
An ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois since 2002.