David Mamet
Biography
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker born on November 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays titled The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. He subsequently won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays Glengarry Glen Ross in 1984 and Speed-the-Plow in 1988. Later, his play Race opened on Broadway in 2009, and The Penitent premiered off-Broadway in 2017. As a filmmaker, feature films that Mamet both wrote and directed include House of Games in 1987, Homicide in 1991, The Spanish Prisoner in 1997, and Heist in 2001, which was his biggest commercial success. Additionally, his screenwriting credits include The Post.
Career overview
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker born on November 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays, which included The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. Later in his career, his plays Race and The Penitent opened on Broadway in 2009 and premiered off-Broadway in 2017, respectively. Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays Glengarry Glen Ross in 1984 and Speed-the-Plow in 1988.
In addition to his work in theater, Mamet has built a substantial film career encompassing both writing and directing. Feature films that he both wrote and directed include House of Games in 1987, Homicide in 1991, The Spanish Prisoner in 1997, and his biggest commercial success, Heist, released in 2001. His extensive screenwriting credits also include the film The Post. Known primarily for his writing, Mamet holds 67 known credits on The Movie Database, where he is also known by alternative names including Richard Weisz and David Alan Mamet.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
110 titles- Marty Supreme (2025) as Director Glenn Nordmann
- Henry Johnson (2025) Writer
- Henry Johnson (2025) Director
- Beau Is Afraid (2023) as Rabbi
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Theatre Play
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Script
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Novel
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Idea
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Writer
- The Penitent: A Rational Man (2023) Screenplay
- Just a Scene (2022) Original Story
- About Last Night (2014) Theatre Play
- Phil Spector (2013) Screenplay
- Phil Spector (2013) Director
- Phil Spector (2013) Executive Producer
- Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2012) as Self
- Glengarry Glen Ross (2011) Writer
- Two Painters (2010) Director
- Two Painters (2010) Writer
- Inside the Actor's Workshop (2010) Writer
- Inside the Actor's Workshop (2010) Director
- Our Valley (2010) Director
- Our Valley (2010) Writer
- Lost Masterpieces of Pornography (2010) Director
- Lost Masterpieces of Pornography (2010) Writer
- The Marquee (2010) Director
- The Marquee (2010) Writer
- Redbelt (2008) Writer
- Redbelt (2008) Director
- David Mamet on House of Games (2007) as Himself
- The Unit (2006) Writer
- The Unit (2006) Director
- The Unit (2006) Producer
- The Unit (2006) Creator
- Edmond (2006) Writer
- Edmond (2006) Theatre Play
- David Mamet on 'House of Games' (2005) as Himself
- Spartan (2004) Director
- Spartan (2004) Screenplay
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film (2003) as Self - Director ("Catastrophe")
- The Shield (2002) Director
- Heist (2001) Director
- Heist (2001) Writer
- Hannibal (2001) Screenplay
- Catastrophe (2001) Director
- State and Main (2000) Director
- State and Main (2000) Screenplay
- Lakeboat (2000) Theatre Play
- Lakeboat (2000) Writer
- Lansky (1999) Writer
- The Winslow Boy (1999) Director
- The Winslow Boy (1999) Writer
- Ronin (1998) Screenplay
- The Edge (1997) Screenplay
- Wag the Dog (1997) Screenplay
- The Spanish Prisoner (1997) Director
- The Spanish Prisoner (1997) Writer
- Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants (1996) Director
- American Buffalo (1996) Screenplay
- American Buffalo (1996) Theatre Play
- Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay (1996)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as David (voice)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) Additional Writing
- Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) Screenplay
- Oleanna (1994) Director
- Oleanna (1994) Screenplay
- Oleanna (1994) Theatre Play
- Oleanna (1994) Lyricist
- Texan (1994) Writer
- A Life in the Theatre (1993) Theatre Play
- A Life in the Theatre (1993) Teleplay
- A Life in the Theatre (1993) Executive Producer
- Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Screenplay
- Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Theatre Play
- Hoffa (1992) Screenplay
- Hoffa (1992) Associate Producer
- The Water Engine (1992) as Brown Haired Man
- The Water Engine (1992) Theatre Play
- The Water Engine (1992) Writer
- Homicide (1991) Director
- Homicide (1991) Writer
- Uncle Vanya (1991) Writer
- The Yiddish Cinema (1991) as Narrator
- Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret (1990) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as David Mamet (voice)
- We're No Angels (1989) Writer
- The Shawl (1989) Writer
- The Play on One (1988) Writer
- Things Change (1988) Director
- Things Change (1988) Writer
- Lip Service (1988) Executive Producer
- The Untouchables (1987) Writer
- Black Widow (1987) as Herb
- House of Games (1987) Screenplay
- House of Games (1987) Director
- House of Games (1987) Story
- About Last Night... (1986) Theatre Play
- The Verdict (1982) Screenplay
- Hill Street Blues (1981) Writer
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Screenplay
- Assassination Screenplay
- The Prince Writer
- The Prince Executive Producer
- Speed the Plow Director
- Speed the Plow Theatre Play
- Speed the Plow Screenplay
- House of Games Original Film Writer
- Russian Poland Director
- Russian Poland Writer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is David Mamet best known for?
David Mamet is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Marty Supreme (2025), Beau Is Afraid (2023), About Last Night (2014), Street Legal (1987).
When and where was David Mamet born?
David Mamet was born on November 30, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does David Mamet have?
David Mamet has accumulated over 110 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1981 to 2025.
What is David Mamet's background in cinema and television?
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker born on November 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays titled The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. He subsequently won a Pulitzer Prize and received Ton...
David Mamet by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Simpsons (1989) as David Mamet (voice) — aged about 41
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as David (voice) — aged about 47
- Marty Supreme (2025) as Director Glenn Nordmann — aged about 77
- Beau Is Afraid (2023) as Rabbi — aged about 75
- Black Widow (1987) as Herb — aged about 39
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self — aged about 55
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