Life
He graduated from Ohio University. In 1981, he moved to Chicago, where he acted in ''The House of Blue Leaves'' and "The Normal Heart," where he met actor and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Steven Drukman with whom he lived for three years. He joined the play writing group Chicago New Plays. His partner at the time of his death was activist and cartoonist Daniel Sotomayor. He died of complications from HIV/AIDS, AIDS on November 7, 1992, aged 33. Ohio University named a new theater space for him. The Goodman Theatre and the Victory Gardens Theater have established an annual playwriting award in his name.Family
The son of Leo McPherson and Peggy Sansbury, he had the following siblings: Bret and Mark McPherson, Steve Sansbury, Hugh Sansbury, Susan MacDowell, Ellen Oatney and Cathy Hargett.Awards
* 1991 Whiting Awards, Whiting Award * 1992 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play * Oppenheimer Award * Obie Award * Outer Critics Circle Award * Induction into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame (in 1992).Works
* ''Til the Fat Lady Sings'' Ohio University * ''Scraped'' Organic Theatre 1986 * ''Marvin's Room (play), Marvin's Room'' Goodman Theatre 1990Screenplay
* ''Marvin's Room (film), Marvin's Room'' (film, 1996) * ''Legal Briefs''References
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