Arthur Kopit

Career overview

Arthur Lee Kopit was an American playwright and actor born on May 10, 1937, in Manhattan, New York City. He studied engineering at Harvard University, where he discovered a passion for theater. Kopit is recognized for his innovative and satirical works that often explored American culture and societal issues. He is best known for his 1960 play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad, which parodied avant-garde drama and the Theatre of the Absurd.

His career included notable works such as Indians, Wings, and the musical Nine, for which he wrote the book. Kopit was a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for his plays Indians and Wings. He also received three Tony Award nominations: Best Play for Indians in 1970, Best Play for Wings in 1979, and Best Book of a Musical for Nine in 1982. Other credits include Hands of a Stranger and Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson. Kopit passed away on April 2, 2021, at the age of 83.