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George Abbott

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For other people named George Abbot, see George Abbot (disambiguation).
George Abbott
File:George Francis Abbott.jpg
NationalityUnited States
Notable awardsDrama Desk Award Outstanding Director (1983)
Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1960)
Tony Award Best Direction (1960, 1963)
Tony Award Best Musical (1955, 1956, 1960)
Special Tony Award (1987)
SpouseEdnah Levis (1914–1930)
Mary Sinclair (1946–1952)
Joy Valderrama (1983–1995)

George Francis Abbott (25 June 1887 - 31 January 1995) was an American theater producer and director, playwright, screenwriter, and film director and producer whose career spanned more than seven decades.

Biography

Early years

Abbott was born in Forestville, New York, near the town of Salamanca, which twice elected his father mayor. In 1898 his family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he attended Kearney Military Academy. Within a few years his family returned to New York, and he graduated from Hamburg High School in 1907. Four years later he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester, where he wrote his first play, Perfectly Harmless, for the University Dramatic Club.

Abbott then went to Harvard University where he studied playwriting under George Pierce Baker. Under his tutelage he wrote The Head of the Family, which was performed at the Harvard Dramatic Club in 1912. He then worked for a year as assistant stage manager at the Bijou Theatre in Boston where his play The Man in the Manhole won a contest.

Career

Abbott first appeared as an actor on Broadway in The Misleading Lady in 1913. While acting in several plays in New York City he began to write, with his first successful play being The Fall Guy (1925). He worked in Hollywood as a writer and director while continuing with his theater work. Among those who crossed paths with Abbott early in their careers are Desi Arnaz, Gene Tierney, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Bob Fosse, Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Liza Minnelli.

Abbott acquired a reputation as an astute "show doctor." He frequently was called upon to supervise changes when a show was having difficulties in tryouts or previews prior to its Broadway opening. He was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Abbott married his first wife Ednah Levis in 1914. They had a daughter Judith, who became an actress and married actor Tom Ewell in 1946. Ednah died in 1930 and Abbott married Mary Sinclair in April 1946; they divorced in 1951. On 21 November 1983, five months past his 96th birthday, he married Joy Valderrama.

In 1965, the 54th Street Theatre was rechristened the George Abbott Theater in his honor. The building was demolished in 1970. New York's George Abbott Way, the section of West 45th Street northwest of Times Square, is also named in his honour.

Abbott died of a stroke in Miami Beach, four months and three weeks short of his 108th birthday. The New York Times obituary read, "Mrs. Abbott said that a week and a half before his death he was dictating revisions to the second act of Pajama Game with a revival in mind. Last year, at a mere 106 years old, he walked down the aisle on opening night of the Damn Yankees revival and received a standing ovation. He was heard saying to his companion, 'There must be somebody important here.'"

Work

Stage

Filmography

Year Title Credit
1918 The Imposter Writer; actor (Lem)
1926 Love 'Em and Leave 'Em Writer
1927 Hills of Peril Playwright, A Holy Terror
1928 Four Walls Playwright; writer
1929 Coquette Playwright
1929 The Carnival Man Director
1929 Broadway Playwright; writer
1929 The Bishop's Candlesticks Director
1929 Why Bring That Up? Writer; director
1929 The Saturday Night Kid Playwright, Love 'Em and Leave 'Em
1929 Night Parade Playwright, Ringside
1929 Halfway to Heaven Director; writer
1930 El Dios del mar Writer
1930 All Quiet on the Western Front Writer
1930 The Fall Guy Playwright
1930 Manslaughter Director; writer
1930 The Sea God Director; writer
1931 Der Sprung ins Nichts Writer
1931 Stolen Heaven Director; writer
1931 La Incorregible Playwright, Manslaughter
1931 Sombras del circo Playwright, Halfway to Heaven
1931 À mi-chemin du ciel Playwright, Halfway to Heaven
1931 Secrets of a Secretary Director; writer
1931 My Sin Director; writer
1931 The Cheat Director
1932 Halvvägs till himlen Writer
1932 Those We Love Playwright
1933 Lilly Turner Playwright
1934 Heat Lightning Playwright
1934 Straight Is the Way Playwright, Four Walls
1936 Three Men on a Horse Playwright
1938 Broadway Writer
1939 On Your Toes Playwright
1940 Too Many Girls Director
1940 The Boys from Syracuse Playwright
1941 Highway West Playwright, Heat Lightning
1942 Broadway Playwright
1947 Beat the Band Playwright

Awards and nominations

Awards
  • 1955 Tony Award for Best Musical – The Pajama Game
  • 1956 Tony Award for Best Musical – Damn Yankees
  • 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Drama – Fiorello!
  • 1960 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Fiorello!
  • 1960 Tony Award for Best Musical – Fiorello!
  • 1963 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
  • 1976 Special Tony Award: The Lawrence Langer Award
  • 1982 Kennedy Center Honors
  • 1983 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical – On Your Toes
  • 1987 Special Tony Award on the occasion of his 100th birthday
Nominations
  • 1930 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Writing – All Quiet on the Western Front
  • 1958 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical – Damn Yankees
  • 1958 Tony Award for Best Musical – New Girl in Town
  • 1958 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical – The Pajama Game
  • 1959 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures – Damn Yankees
  • 1963 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – Never Too Late
  • 1968 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – How Now, Dow Jones

References

  • Marilyn Berger (2 February 1995). "George Abbott, Broadway Giant With Hit After Hit, is Dead at 107". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-21.


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