Joseph Madison LeSueur (September 15, 1924 – May 14, 2001) was an American poet and screenwriter. He is known as a lover of

Frank O'Hara Francis Russell "Frank" O'Hara (March 27, 1926 – July 25, 1966) was an American writer, poet, and art critic. A curator at the Museum of Modern Art, O'Hara became prominent in New York City's art world. O'Hara is regarded as a leading figure i ...

and the author of ''Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir.''

Life

LeSueur grew up in Los Angeles, California and was raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in World War II and attended the University of Southern California on the GI Bill. After graduating, he moved to New York City in 1949. LeSueur met O'Hara at a party in 1951, and the two lived together between 1955 and 1965. During these years, O'Hara wrote many of his most famous poems, including the collection

Lunch Poems ''Lunch Poems'' is a book of poetry by Frank O'Hara published in 1964 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights, number 19 in their Pocket Poets series. The collection was commissioned by Ferlinghetti as early as 1959, but O'Hara delayed in comple ...

. From 1959 to 1963, the two lived at 441 East 9th St in the East Village. As a member of the New York literary and art scenes, LeSueur knew Andy Warhol and the two conspired to write a movie together. He was also a friend of the writer and translator Patsy Southgate. LeSueur's social circle is depicted in

Wynn Chamberlain Elwyn Moody "Wynn" Chamberlain, (19 May 1927 – 27 November 2014), was an American artist Filmmaking, , film maker and author. Described by ''The New York Times'' as a "pioneer Realism (visual arts), realist painter", Chamberlain has two works, '' ...

's diptych "Poets Dressed and Undressed," which shows LeSueur alongside O'Hara, Joe Brainard, and Frank Lima. LeSueur died on May 14, 2001 in East Hampton, New York, aged 76.

Career

Having worked as an editor and critic, LeSueur eventually found work as a regular writer for the soap opera ''

Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the third longest-running drama in television in American history. ''Guiding Light'' a ...

''. He was a writer for several TV series, including '' Another World'' (1964), '' Texas'' (1980) and ''

Ryan's Hope ''Ryan's Hope'' is an American soap opera created by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer, airing for 13 years on ABC from July 7, 1975, to January 13, 1989. It revolves around the trials and tribulations within a large Irish-American family in th ...

'' (1975). With Bill Berkson, he edited the book ''Homage to Frank O'Hara'' (Big Sky Books, 1978). ''Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir'' is a book that weaves together poems by O'Hara and LeSueur's own memoir. LeSueur finished the book shortly before his own death in 2001.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:LeSueur, Joe 1924 births 2001 deaths American male screenwriters 20th-century American screenwriters Latter Day Saints from California American military personnel of World War II University of Southern California alumni