Profession: Playwright
Biography: Lillian Hellman was an American playwright, best known for her work on Broadway but also for her political activism as a communist sympathizer. Her theatrical career was significantly impacted when she was blacklisted after an appearance before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Hellman continued to work on Broadway, however, and had a number of major successes before as well as after being blacklisted. Her most famous works include Watch on the Rhine (1941), The Autumn Garden (1951), and Toys in the Attic (1960).
While the pair never married, Hellman was for years involved with the writer Dashiell Hammett, known for his detective novels The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Thin Man (1934).
Born: June 20, 1905
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Star Sign: Gemini
Historical Events
- 1934-11-20 Lillian Hellman's "Children's Hour" premieres in NYC
- 1939-02-15 Lillian Hellman's play "The Little Foxes" premieres in New York City
- 1941-04-01 Lillian Hellman's play "Watch on the Rhine" premieres in NYC
- 1944-04-12 Lillian Hellman's "Searching Wind" premieres in NYC
- 1946-11-20 Lillian Hellman's play "Another Part of the Forest" premieres in NYC
- 1949-12-17 Marc Blitzstein's musical drama "Regina", based on Lillian Hellman's play "The Little Foxes", closes at 46th St Theatre, NYC. after 56 performances and 2 Tony Awards
- 1951-03-07 Lillian Hellman's play "Autumn Garden" premieres on Broadway in NYC
- 1960-02-25 Lillian Hellman's "Toys in the Attic" premieres in NYC
Alan Ayckbourn
Edward Albee
Frank Wedekind
Jean Genet
Olympe de Gouges
Richard Steele