David William Rabe (born March 10, 1940) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1972 (''

Sticks and Bones ''Sticks and Bones'' is a 1971 play by David Rabe. The black comedy focuses on David, a blind Vietnam War veteran who finds himself unable to come to terms with his actions on the battlefield and alienated from his family because they neither can ...

'') and also received Tony award nominations for Best Play in 1974 (''

In the Boom Boom Room ''In the Boom Boom Room'' is a play by David Rabe. The play follows a young go-go dancer who has a difficult relationship with her parents. Plot summary Chrissy arrives in 1960s Philadelphia with the dream of becoming a successful dancer. Despe ...

''), 1977 ('' Streamers'') and 1985 (''

Hurlyburly ''Hurlyburly'' is a dark comedy play by David Rabe, first staged in 1984. The title refers to dialogue from Shakespeare's ''Macbeth''. Plot ''Hurlyburly'' depicts the intersecting lives of several low-to-mid-level Hollywood players in the 198 ...

'').

Early life

Rabe was born in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Ruth (McCormick), a department store worker, and William Rabe, a teacher and meat packer.

Career

Rabe was drafted into the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

in 1965 and served in a medical unit during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

. After leaving the Army in 1967, Rabe returned to

Villanova University Villanova University is a private Roman Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Augustinians in 1842 and named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. The university is the oldest Catholic university in Penns ...

, studying writing and earning an M.A. in 1968. During this time, he began work on the play ''Sticks and Bones'', in which the family represents the ugly underbelly of the Nelson family when they are faced with their hopeless son

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

returning home from Vietnam as a blinded vet. Rabe is known for his loose trilogy of plays drawing on his experiences as an Army draftee in

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

, ''

'' (1969), the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

-winning ''

The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel ''The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel'' is a play by David Rabe. Rabe's first play in his Vietnam War trilogy that continued with '' Sticks and Bones'' and '' Streamers'', its story is bracketed by scenes depicting the death of the everyman-like ti ...

'' (1971), and '' Streamers'' (1976). He has also written ''

'' (both the play and the screenplay for the film version), and the screenplays for the Vietnam War drama ''

Casualties of War ''Casualties of War'' is a 1989 American war film, war drama (film and television), drama film directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Rabe, based primarily on an article written by Daniel Lang (writer), Daniel Lang for ''The New Yorker'' ...

'' (1989) and the film adaptation of

John Grisham John Ray Grisham Jr. (; born February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas) is an American novelist, lawyer and former member of the 7th district of the Mississippi House of Representatives, known for his popular legal thrillers. According to the Ame ...

's '' The Firm'' (1993). Rabe also wrote a screenplay for '' First Blood'' for producer

Martin Bregman Martin Leon Bregman (May 18, 1926 – June 16, 2018) was an American film producer and personal manager. He produced many films, including ''Scarface (1983 film), Scarface'', ''Sea of Love (film), Sea of Love'', ''Venom (1981 film), Venom'', ''Se ...

with

Mike Nichols Mike Nichols (born Michael Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theater director, producer, actor, and comedian. He was noted for his ability to work across a range of genres and for his aptitude fo ...

interested in directing and the role of John Rambo written for

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino (; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he has received numerous accolades: including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy ...

, but it was not filmed because Pacino found it "too extreme" and declined to appear in it. A collection of Rabe's manuscripts is housed in the Mugar Memorial Library, at

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with its original campu ...

Personal life

Rabe was married to actress

Jill Clayburgh Jill Clayburgh (April 30, 1944 – November 5, 2010) was an American actress known for her work in theater, television, and cinema. She received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Ac ...

from 1979 until her death on November 5, 2010. He has two children with Clayburgh, actress

Lily Rabe Lily Rabe (born June 29, 1982) is an American actress. She is best known for her multiple roles on the FX anthology horror series ''American Horror Story'' (2011–2021). For her performance as Portia in the Broadway production of ''The Merchant ...

and Michael Rabe. He has one son, Jason Rabe, from his first marriage.

Awards and honors

*1967

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The second-oldest major philanthropic institution in America, after the Carneg ...

Grant *1970

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

Award, for a series on

Daytop Daytop, or Daytop Village, is a drug addiction treatment organization with facilities in New York City. It was founded in 1963 in Tottenville, Staten Island by Daniel Harold Casriel along with Monsignor William B. O'Brien, a Roman Catholic pri ...

addict rehabilitation program *1971

Obie Award The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

for distinguished playwriting for ''The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel'' *1971

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...

for ''The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel'' *1971 Elizabeth Hull/Kate Warriner Award from

Dramatists Guild The Dramatists Guild of America is a professional organization for playwrights, composers, and lyricists working in the U.S. theatre market. Membership as an Associate Member is open to any person having written at least one stage play. Active Mem ...

for ''The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel'' and ''Streamers'' *1972

New York Drama Critics Circle The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of 22 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines and wire services based in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization is best known for its annual awards for excellence in theater.Jone ...

citation *1972 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play in 1972 for ''Sticks and Bones'' *1972

for Best Play in 1972 for ''Sticks and Bones'' *1974 Tony Award nominee for Best Play for ''In the Boom Boom Room'' *1976 National Institute and American Academy Award in Literature *1976

Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the ar ...

*1977 Tony Award nominee for Best Play for ''Streamers'' *1977

New York Drama Critics Circle Award The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of 22 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines and wire services based in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization is best known for its annual awards for excellence in theater.Jone ...

for Best American Play for ''Streamers'' *1985 Tony Award nominee for Best Play for ''Hurlyburly'' *2014

PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award The PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, commonly referred to as the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award, is awarded by the PEN America (formerly PEN American Center). It annually recognizes two American playwrights. A medal is given ...

Master American Dramatist

Works

Plays

* ''Chameleon'' (1959) * ''

'' (1971) * ''

'' (1971) * ''The Orphan'' (1972) * ''

'' (1973) * ''Burning'' (1974) * ''The Crossing'' (1975) * '' Streamers'' (1976) * ''Goose and Tomtom'' (1982) * ''

'' (1984) * ''Those the River Keeps'' (1991) * ''A Question of Mercy: Based upon the Journal by Richard Selzer'' (1997) * ''

The Dog Problem ''The Dog Problem'' is a 2006 comedy film written and directed by Scott Caan. Along with Caan, the film stars Giovanni Ribisi, Lynn Collins, Kevin Corrigan, Sarah Shahi, and Mena Suvari. Don Cheadle appears in an uncredited role. The film prem ...

'' (2001) * ''The Black Monk'' (2004) * ''An Early History of Fire'' (2012)NY Times review
/ref> * '' Good for Otto'' (2015) * ''Visiting Edna'' (2016)

Screenplays

* ''

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can ''I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can'' is a 1982 American biographical film directed by Jack Hofsiss and starring Jill Clayburgh. The screenplay by David Rabe is based on the memoir of the same title by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara G ...

'' (1982) * '' Streamers'' (1983) * ''

'' (1989) * '' State of Grace'' (with Dennis McIntyre, 1990) * '' The Firm'' (with Robert Towne and David Rayfiel, 1993) * ''

'' (1998) * ''In the Boom Boom Room'' (adapted from his play, 1999)

Fiction

* '' Recital of the Dog'' (1993) * ''The Crossing Guard'' (novelization of the screenplay by Sean Penn, 1995) * ''A Primitive Heart'' (2005) * ''Dinosaurs on the Roof'' (2008) * ''Mr. Wellington'' (children's book, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker, 2009) * ''Girl by the Road at Night: A Novel of Vietnam'' (2010)

References

External links

* *
Hollywood.comAnswers.com
at ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''
Encyclopædia Britannica
* * *