Known for movies
Short Info
Died | December 22, 1989, Paris, France |
Spouse | Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil |
Fact | His play, "Waiting for Godot" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 2012 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Production of a Play (Large Theatre). |
Samuel Beckett was born on April 13, 1906, in Foxrock, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, to William Frank Beckett, a quantity surveyor and descendant of the Huguenots, and Maria Jones Roe, a nurse who was of English descent. His father was a member of the Protestant Ascendancy class and his mother a Roman Catholic. The couple had married in 1901. Beckett had one older brother, Frank Edward Beckett.
As a child, Beckett was educated at home by his mother until the age of 11. He then attended Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, from 1917 to 1923. A bright student, he excelled in the classics and won a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied modern languages, graduating with a first-class degree in 1927.
While at Trinity College, Beckett became involved in the Dublin literary scene, contributing to the student magazine Kottabos and meeting such future luminaries as James Joyce and Sean O’Casey. He also became an accomplished cricketer, playing for the college team.
After graduation, Beckett spent a year in London studying at the British Museum before returning to Dublin, where he worked as a lecturer at Trinity College from 1930 to 1932. In 1932, he published his first work of fiction, More Pricks Than Kicks, a collection of 10 short stories about Dubliners struggling to find meaning in their lives.
The following year, Beckett moved to Paris on a grant from the Irish Arts Council. There he met the American writer James Joyce, who became a major influence on his work. Joyce encouraged Beckett to experiment with language and form in his writing.
In Paris, Beckett also met the painter and writer Suzanne Deschevaux-Dumesnil, with whom he began a lifelong relationship. The couple never married but had a son, Samuel Beckett Jr., born in 1936.
During World War II, Beckett served in the French Resistance movement and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille de la Résistance for his bravery. After the war, he returned to Paris and continued to write. In 1953, he published the novel Molloy, followed by Malone Dies (1951) and The Unnamable (1953), which are collectively known as the “Trilogy.”
In 1955, Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot premiered in Paris. The absurdist work about two tramps waiting for the arrival of someone who never comes was an instant success and cemented Beckett’s reputation as one of the leading writers of his generation.
Over the next few years, Beckett wrote a number of other successful plays, including Endgame (1957), Krapp’s Last Tape (1958), Happy Days (1961), and Not I (1972). He also wrote several novels, including The Lost Ones (1972) and Mercier and Camier (1974).
In 1969, Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation.” He is the only Irish writer to have won the Nobel Prize.
Beckett continued to write until his death on December 22, 1989. His work is characterized by its minimalist style and bleak outlook on life.
General Info
Full Name | Samuel Beckett |
Died | December 22, 1989, Paris, France |
Profession | Translator, Playwright, Author, Poet, Film director, Novelist, Theatre Director, Screenwriter, Essayist, Cricketer |
Education | Trinity College, Dublin, Portora Royal School |
Nationality | Irish |
Family
Spouse | Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil |
Parents | Maria Jones Roe, William Frank Beckett |
Siblings | Frank Edward Beckett |
Accomplishments
Awards | Nobel Prize in Literature, Croix de guerre 1939–1945, Obie Award for Playwriting, Obie Award for Best Play, Obie Award for Best Foreign Play, Obie Award for Distinguished Plays, New York Drama Critics' Circle Special Citation |
Nominations | Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play, Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Revival |
Movies | Film, Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film, Happy Days, Comédie, En attendant Godot, Catastrophe, My Case, Rockaby, Come and Go, Not I |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | The dead die hard, they are trespassers on the beyond, they must take the place as they find it, the shafts and manholes back into the muck, till such time as the lord of the manor incurs through his long acquiescence a duty of care in respect of them. |
2 | Walter [Lowenfels], all I want to do is sit on my ass and fart and think of Dante. |
3 | Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. |
4 | [on Delphine Seyrig] She is lovely. |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | His play, "Waiting for Godot" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre Too in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 1990 Los Angeles Weekly Award for Outstanding Revival. |
2 | His play, "Waiting for Godot" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle McCulloh Award for Revival. |
3 | His play, "Waiting for Godot" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 2012 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Production of a Play (Large Theatre). |
4 | His play, "Happy Days," was awarded the 1990 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Production at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California. |
5 | Childhood friend of Mary Manning. |
6 | Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, volume 61, pg. 64-73. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1998. |
7 | The University of Dublin - Trinity College named their theatre after him. It is the campus theatre of the University's School of Drama. |
8 | Buried in the exclusive "Montparnasse" cemetery Paris, France. |
Movies
Writer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Fragmento II | 1988 | Short writer | |
Mon cas | 1986 | extracts from play "Pour Finir et Autres Foirades" | |
La voz humana | 1986 | TV Series play - 1 episode | |
Warten auf Godot | 1984 | TV Movie | |
Rockaby | 1983 | Documentary play | |
Nacht und Träume | 1983 | TV Short | |
Quadrat 1+2 | 1982 | TV Short | |
Dias Felizes | 1982 | TV Movie play | |
Great Performances | 1980 | TV Series play - 1 episode | |
Happy Days | 1980 | TV Movie play | |
Film (A Screen Play by Samuel Beckett) | 1979 | Short writer | |
Teatro estudio | 1978 | TV Series play - 1 episode | |
Waiting for Godot | 1977 | TV Movie play | |
Drama | 1977 | TV Series play - 1 episode | |
...but the clouds... | 1977 | TV Short | |
Ghost Trio | 1977 | TV Short | |
The Lively Arts | 1977 | TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode | |
Akt utan ord II | 1976 | Short play "Act Without Words II" | |
Warten auf Godot | 1976 | TV Movie play | |
Der Macher oder Warten auf Godeau | 1974 | TV Movie play "Waiting For Godot" | |
Spil | 1974 | TV Short play | |
He, Joe | 1974 | TV Movie play | |
Not I | 1973 | Short play | |
Wachten op Godot | 1973 | TV Movie play | |
Thirty-Minute Theatre | 1972 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
I väntan på Godot | 1971 | TV Movie play | |
Spel zonder woorden I en II | 1971 | TV Movie | |
Zur Nacht | 1971 | TV Series documentary 1 episode | |
Poem | 1971 | Short poem by | |
Finale di partita | 1970 | TV Movie play | |
Oh! Les beaux jours | 1970 | TV Movie play | |
Das letzte Band | 1969 | TV Movie play "Krapp's Last Tape" | |
Slutspil | 1969 | TV Movie play "Endgame" | |
Krapp's laatste band | 1969 | TV Movie play | |
Spiel | 1969 | TV Movie play "Play" | |
Sluttspill | 1969 | TV Movie play "Endgame" | |
Endspiel | 1969 | TV Movie play "Endgame" | |
Hej, Dzo! | 1968 | TV Movie | |
Beginning to End | 1968 | TV Movie | |
Cekají na Godota | 1968 | Short play "Waiting for Godot" | |
Leikin loppu | 1968 | TV Movie play "Fin de partie" | |
Comédie | 1966 | Short play | |
Kuvitelkaa, mielikuvitus kuollut | 1966 | TV Movie play "Imagination Dead Imagine" | |
Vai mitä Joe | 1966 | TV Movie play "Eh, Joe?" | |
Ikke osse, Joe | 1966 | TV Short play | |
Eh, Joe? | 1966 | TV Movie | |
The Present Stage | 1966 | TV Series play "Waiting For Godot" - 2 episodes | |
Krapps sista band | 1966 | TV Movie play | |
New York Television Theatre | 1966 | TV Series play: "Eh, Joe?" - 1 episode | |
Beginning to End | 1966 | TV Movie from the works of | |
Spiel | 1965 | TV Short play "Play" | |
Glückliche Tage | 1965 | TV Movie play "Happy End" | |
Film | 1965 | Short | |
Mens vi venter på Godot | 1965 | TV Movie play | |
Warten auf Godot | 1963 | TV Movie play | |
Festival | 1963 | TV Series play - 1 episode | |
Krapps siste spole | 1963 | TV Movie based on play | |
Viimeinen ääninauha | 1963 | TV Movie play "Krapp's Last Tape" | |
Tout ceux qui tombent | 1963 | TV Movie play | |
Vi venter på Godot | 1962 | TV Movie play "Waiting for Godot" | |
Das letzte Band | 1962 | TV Movie play | |
Play of the Week | TV Series play - 1 episode, 1961 writer - 1 episode, 1961 | ||
Zero | 1960 | Short play "Mime Without Words" / written by | |
While Waiting for Godot | 2013 | play completed | |
Krapp's Last Tape | TV Movie based in part on a play by announced | ||
Les anges ne rêvent pas | Inspired on the Books completed | ||
Waiting for Dogot | 2014 | Short quotation | |
If I'm Waiting | 2008 | play "Waiting For Godot" | |
Come and Go | 2007 | Short | |
Krapp's Last Tape | 2007 | TV Movie | |
Krapp's Last Tape | 2007 | Short original author | |
Ti pou | 2005 | Short play | |
He Joe | 2005 | Short based on story by | |
Atemzug | 2004 | TV Movie text | |
Cascando: On the Razor's Edge | 2004 | Short original story | |
Poslednja Krapova traka | 2004 | TV Movie play | |
Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film | 2003 | Video documentary plays | |
Kraj na Igrata MMI | 2002 | TV Movie play | |
Act Without Words II | 2001 | TV Short play | |
A Piece of Monologue | 2001 | TV Short play | |
Play | 2001 | Short play | |
Waiting for Godot | 2001 | play | |
Várjá Vlagyimir | 2001 | play "Waiting for Godot" | |
Act Without Words I | 2000 | TV Short play | |
Breath | 2000 | Short play | |
Catastrophe | 2000 | Short play | |
Come and Go | 2000 | TV Short play | |
Footfalls | 2000 | Short play | |
Not I | 2000 | Short play | |
Ohio Impromptu | 2000 | TV Short play | |
Rockaby | 2000 | TV Short | |
Rough for Theatre I | 2000 | Short play | |
Rough for Theatre II | 2000 | Short play | |
That Time | 2000 | Short play | |
Voz | 2000 | story | |
What Where | 2000 | Short play | |
Endgame | 2000 | TV Movie play | |
Krapp's Last Tape | 2000 | TV Movie play | |
Happy Days | 2000 | TV Movie play | |
Fin de partie | 1998 | TV Movie play | |
Endspiel | 1996 | TV Movie play "Endgame" | |
Beckett Directs Beckett: Endgame by Samuel Beckett | 1992 | TV Movie play | |
Glasnost | TV Series play - 2 episodes, 1989 - 1992 writer - 1 episode, 1989 | ||
Schastlivye dni | 1991 | play "Happy Days" | |
Waiting for Godot | 1991 | play | |
Oh! Les beaux jours | 1990 | TV Movie play | |
Céu de Papel | 1990 | TV Movie play | |
Endgame by Samuel Beckett | 1989 | TV Movie play | |
En attendant Godot | 1989 | TV Movie play | |
Das letzte Band | 1989 | Video short | |
Monaha ta synnefa | 1989 | Short play | |
Beckett Directs Beckett: Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett | 1988 | TV Movie play | |
Beckett Directs Beckett: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett | 1988 | TV Movie play | |
Spel utan ord | 1988 | TV Movie play "Act without words" | |
Kraj partije | 1988 | TV Movie play |
Director
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Beckett Directs Beckett: Endgame by Samuel Beckett | 1992 | TV Movie | |
Beckett Directs Beckett: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett | 1988 | TV Movie | |
Quadrat 1+2 | 1982 | TV Short | |
Warten auf Godot | 1976 | TV Movie theatre director | |
Das letzte Band | 1969 | TV Movie | |
Endspiel | 1969 | TV Movie |
Miscellaneous
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Beckett Directs Beckett: Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett | 1988 | TV Movie directed for stage: Original mise-en-scène | |
...but the clouds... | 1977 | TV Short supervisor | |
Ghost Trio | 1977 | TV Short supervisor | |
The Lively Arts | 1977 | TV Series documentary supervisor - 1 episode | |
Kuinka draama syntyy | 1957 | Documentary short play: Waiting for Godot |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Here Comes Godot | TV Series grateful acknowledgment - 15 episodes, 2014 special thanks - 1 episode, 2014 | ||
My Old Lady | 2014 | dedicatee | |
All Things Shining | 2012 | inspirational thanks | |
Arbitrarody | 2009 | Short special thanks | |
Rumbo a peor | 2009 | Short in memory of | |
Rockaby | 1983 | Documentary thanks: especially for the play and for his support |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Samuel Beckett | 1969 | Short | Himself |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Notfilm | 2015 | Documentary | |
Waiting for Beckett | 1993 | Video documentary | Himself |
Rockaby | 1983 | Documentary | Himself (watching Billie in 'Happy Days') |
Awards
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Grand Prize | SACD Awards | ||
1969 | Nobel Prize in Literature | Nobel Prize | "for his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man ... More |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia