- Born
- Birth nameDavid Alan Mamet
- Height5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Born in 1947 in Chicago, he was educated at Goddard College, in Vermont, and studied drama at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse, before returning to Chicago and establishing the St Nicholas Theatre Company in 1972. He remained their resident writer for four years. The first of his plays to secure international recognition was 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago' (1974) and 'American Buffalo' (1975). The latter was eventually performed by Al Pacino on Broadway and London's West End earning him an 'Award Obie' when it transferred from Chicago to New York. His play 'Glengarry Glen Ross' won the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. His other plays include 'A Life in the Theatre' (1977). 'Edmond' (1982). 'The Shawl' (1985) and 'Speed the Plow' (1988). The rejection of his screen adaption of 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago' was completely rewritten and released as 'About Last Night in 1986. He soon attracted wide acclaim as a screenwriter when his version of 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' (1981) was made by Bob Rafelson and his original screenplay for 'The Verdict (1982) was nominated for an Oscar. Subsequent screenplays include 'The Untouchables' (1987), 'We're No Angels' (1990), 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1992). He then wrote and directed 'House of Games' (1987), 'Things Change' (1988) and 'Homicide' (1991). He's also published two collections of essays 'Writing in Restaurants' (1986) and Some Freaks' (1989). In 1987, he conducted a series of classes at Columbia University Film School which were put into print as 'On Directing Film' (1992).
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5
- SpousesRebecca Pidgeon(September 22, 1991 - present) (2 children)Lindsay Crouse(December 21, 1977 - 1991) (divorced, 2 children)
- Children
- ParentsLenore June Silver
- Frequently makes use of William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Joe Mantegna, actors who also headlined his stage productions. Other regulars include Ed O'Neill, Lionel Mark Smith, Ricky Jay, Jonathan Katz and the late J.T. Walsh.
- The telephone is often a key device or weapon in his works
- His films feature bursts of fast moving, profane dialog
- Often casts his wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, in prominent roles in movies he directs. While he was married to Lindsay Crouse, the same was true for her.
- Great attention to realistic dialogue, often the actors in his films stutter or even leave a large portion of their lines unsaid.
- Although he intended it as a deconstruction of ruthless business practices and the nature of capitalism, many businesses have used the film 'Glengarry Glen Ross' as a training method and motivational tool for employees.
- Won the Pulitzer prize in Drama for "Glengary Glen Ross".
- Well known for the rhythmic nature of his dialogue, he actually uses a metronome during rehearsals to perfect the actors' delivery of it.
- Eschews using a personal computer to write his screenplays and plays, preferring to use his old-fashioned typewriter.
- Based his play 'Glengarry Glen Ross' on his own time working in a Real Estate office.
- [to acting students at Atlantic Theater Company]Invent nothing, deny nothing.
- I've always been more comfortable sinking while clutching a good theory than swimming with an ugly fact.
- There's no such thing as talent; you just have to work hard enough.
- In a world we find terrifying, we ratify that which doesn't threaten us.
- We Americans have always considered Hollywood, at best, a sinkhole of depraved venality. And, of course, it is. It is not a protective monastery of aesthetic truth. It is a place where everything is incredibly expensive.
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