Terrence McNally, a renowned American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter, was born on November 3, 1938, and passed away on March 24, 2020.
Throughout his illustrious career, spanning six decades, McNally was widely recognized for his outstanding contributions to the world of theatre. He was hailed as "the bard of American theatre" and "one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theatre world has yet produced."
Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1996, McNally received numerous accolades, including the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019, the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2018, the highest recognition of artistic merit in the United States.
McNally's impressive list of awards and nominations includes the Tony Award for Best Play for Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, as well as the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. He also received an Emmy Award, two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards, and three Hull-Warriner Awards.
In addition to his work in theatre, McNally was also a prolific screenwriter, teleplay writer, and memoirist. His plays, musicals, and operas were performed all over the world, and he was one of the few playwrights of his generation to successfully transition from the avant-garde to mainstream acclaim.
McNally was a dedicated member of the regional and off-Broadway theatre movements, as well as a prominent figure on Broadway. He served as vice-president of the Council of the Dramatists Guild from 1981 to 2001, and his work focused on the importance of human connection in a rapidly changing world.
Tragically, McNally passed away on March 24, 2020, at a hospital in Florida, due to complications from COVID-19. His legacy continues to inspire and influence generations of playwrights, librettists, and screenwriters, cementing his place as one of the most important and beloved figures in American theatre.
