Biography
Arguably one of the most prolific and influential playwrights of the latter-20th century, David Mamet amassed a body of work that became famous for his spare, gritty and often profane language which also possessed such a unique cadence that his dialogue was dubbed "Mamet speak. " Noted for his strong male characters and their macho posturing, Mamet's knack for creating low-key yet highly charged verbal confrontations in a male-dominated world …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Will make Broadway directing debut with "Race" (December) | ||
2008 | Directed and wrote the mixed martial arts movie, "Redbelt" | |
2006 | Created and executive produced CBS's special forces drama, "The Unit" | |
2001 | Wrote and directed the crime thriller, "Heist" | |
2000 | Began contributing cartoons to Boston magazine; feature called "Dammit, Mamet!" | |
2000 | Wrote and directed the comedy film "State and Main" | |
1999 | Agreed to serve for one-year as a contributor to Premiere magazine | |
1999 | Penned the play "Boston Marriage" about a lesbian couple (played by Felicity Huffman and Rebecca Pidgeon); premiered at American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts | |
1999 | Adapted and directed film remake of Terrence Rattigan's "The Winslow Boy" | |
1998 | Co-wrote the action film "Ronin"; used pseudonym Richard Weisz | |
1997 | Returned to Broadway with "The Old Neighborhood" | |
1997 | Wrote and directed "The Spanish Prisoner"; based on his play of the same name | |
1997 | Co-scripted (with Hilary Henkin) the screenplay for Barry Levinson's "Wag the Dog"; earned and Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay | |
1996 | Directed the HBO special, "Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants"; based on the Off-Broadway staging | |
1996 | Wrote screenplay adaptation of "American Buffalo" | |
1994 | Staged the Off-Broadway production of "Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants" | |
1994 | Provided the adaptation of "Uncle Vanya" that was the basis for Louis Malle's art-house success "Vanya on 42nd Street" | |
1994 | Published first novel, The Village | |
1992 | Had controversial Off-Broadway hit with "Oleanna"; play examined sexual politics and political correctness | |
1992 | Adapted "The Water Engine" for TNT; also appeared in bit part | |
1992 | Wrote screen adaptation of "Glengarry Glen Ross" | |
1988 | Earned Tony nomination for "Speed-the-Plow" starring Ron Silver and Madonna | |
1987 | Wrote the screenplay for Brian De Palma's big screen version of "The Untouchables" | |
1987 | Debut as a feature director, "House of Games"; also scripted from his original story | |
1987 | Feature acting debut, "Black Widow" | |
1985 | Debuted "The Spanish Prisoner" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre | |
1985 | Founded the Atlantic Theatre Company (traveling company based in New York) with William H Macy and Gregory Mosher as a summer workshop in Vermont for his NYU students | |
1983 | His play "Glengarry Glen Ross" premiered in England; won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize in Drama | |
1982 | Screenplay for "The Verdict" earned Oscar nomination | |
1981 | Scripted first feature, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" | |
1979 | First script for TV, adaptation of his play "A Life in the Theatre" (PBS); later remade for TNT in 1993 | |
1978 | Appointed artistic director and playwright-in-residence at Goodman Theatre in Chicago | |
| Taught at the Yale Drama School | ||
| Lectured in drama at the University of Chicago | ||
1975 | First play produced on Broadway, "American Buffalo" | |
1975 | Double bill of plays first produced Off-Broadway, "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" and "Duck Variations" | |
1971 | Founded Chicago's St. Nicholas Theatre Company at age 24; served as artistic director | |
1970 | First play, "Lakeboat" was produced in Marlboro, VT | |
| Worked as a busboy in the Second City improvisational comedy troupe's home base | ||
| Appeared as a soda jerk in a weekly local TV variety show that dealt with Jewish themes and issues | ||
Awards
1999 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay in The Spanish Prisoner |
1998 | BAFTA Award for Adapted Screenplay in Wag the Dog |
1997 | Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Wag the Dog |
1997 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published) in Wag the Dog |
1987 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in House of Games |
1982 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in The Verdict |
1982 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Another Medium) in The Verdict |