August Wilson
Born in 1945
August Wilson was an American playwright known for his Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of ten plays depicting African-American life in the 20th century.
Born Frederick August Kittel Jr. in Pittsburgh, he later changed his name to honor his mother.
Wilson co-founded theater companies and workshops, promoting African-American voices in theater.
He received numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama.
Wilson's works often premiered at small theaters before gaining wider recognition.
He married three times and had two daughters.
After living in Minnesota and working with various theaters, Wilson settled in Seattle.
He passed away in 2005 shortly after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
