tracker
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Home For You Chat My Shows (beta) Register/Login Games Grosses
Samuel Beckett Headshot

Samuel Beckett

Birth Place: Foxrock, County Dublin, IRELAND

Get Samuel Beckett Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

BIO

Samuel Beckett is widely regarded as one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1906, Beckett attended Trinity College Dublin and later taught at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. He wrote his first novel, Dream of Fair to Middling Women, in 1932, but it was never published during his lifetime.



Beckett's first major play, Waiting for Godot, premiered in Paris in 1953 and is now considered a seminal work of the Theatre of the Absurd. The play's two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for the eponymous Godot, who never arrives. The play's themes of existentialism, meaninglessness, and the human condition struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Waiting for Godot has since been performed countless times around the world and has been translated into over 20 languages.

Beckett's other major plays include Endgame (1957), Krapp's Last Tape (1958), and Happy Days (1961). These works continue to be studied and performed today, and have cemented Beckett's reputation as a master of modernist drama.

In addition to his plays, Beckett also wrote a number of novels, including Molloy (1951), Malone Dies (1951), and The Unnamable (1953). These works are known for their experimental style, complex themes, and exploration of the limits of language.

Beckett was also a prolific writer of poetry, essays, and short stories. His work often dealt with themes of alienation, suffering, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to offer none. Beckett's writing is marked by its spare, minimalist style, which he developed in response to what he saw as the excesses of modern literature.

Beckett's influence on the arts cannot be overstated. His work has inspired countless writers, artists, and filmmakers, and his ideas about the nature of existence and the human condition continue to resonate with audiences today.

Despite his success as a writer, Beckett was notoriously private and reclusive. He rarely gave interviews and shunned publicity. He spent the last years of his life in a nursing home in Paris, where he died in 1989 at the age of 83.

Beckett's most recent work is his posthumously published novella, Echo's Bones, which was released in 2014. The work was originally intended to be the final chapter of his novel, Murphy, but was cut by his publisher at the time. The novella tells the story of a man who is haunted by the ghost of his dead wife, and explores themes of memory, loss, and the nature of reality.

Productions

 
[Broadway, 2025]
Playwright
 
[Off-Broadway, 1986]
Director

Writing

Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Source Material
Source Material
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright

Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2005 - Best Revival

Samuel BeckettEndgame


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1984 - Special Citation

Samuel Beckett


winner
Obie Awards - 1984 - Playwriting

Samuel Beckett, Ohio Impromptu


winner
Obie Awards - 1984 - Playwriting

Samuel Beckett, What Where


winner
Obie Awards - 1984 - Playwriting

Samuel Beckett, Catastrophe


winner
Obie Awards - 1984 - Playwriting

Samuel BeckettPocket


winner
Obie Awards - 1973 - Best Foreign Play

Samuel Beckett, Not I


winner
Obie Awards - 1964 - Best Play

Samuel Beckett Play


winner
Obie Awards - 1962 - Best Foreign Play

Samuel Beckett, Happy Days


winner
Obie Awards - 1960 - Distinguished Play

Samuel Beckett, Krapp's Last Tape


winner
Obie Awards - 1958 - Best Foreign Play

Samuel Beckett, Endgame


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 1955 - Most Controversial Play

Samuel BeckettWaiting for Godot

Videos

News


Review: ON BECKETT at Shakespeare Theatre
by Mary Lincer - Feb 14, 2026

What did our critic think of ON BECKETT at Shakespeare Theatre?
Photos: SPANISH ORANGES World Premiere at The Playground Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 12, 2026

The Playground Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Spanish Oranges, the debut play by Alba Arikha, Samuel Beckett’s goddaughter, with direction from Myriam Cyr. See photos!
BWW Q&A: Bill Irwin Talks ON BECKETT at Shakespeare Theatre Company
by Joshua Wright - Feb 10, 2026

Tony Award-winning actor and master clown Bill Irwin (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Sesame Street) has spent a lifetime captivated by Samuel Beckett. With little more than a funny hat and a podium, Irwin mines the comedy and tragedy of Beckett’s work—including Waiting for Godot, Texts for Nothing, and more—in a nonstop display of jovial verbal and physical comedy that has become Irwin’s signature.
DARLIN' World Premiere and More Set for Bridge Street Theatre 2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 9, 2026

Bridge Street Theatre has revealed its 2026 MainStage Season and SoloFest lineup, a dynamic year of theatre that spans comedy, drama, world premiere work, and intimate solo performances.
Review: HAPPY DAYS at Washington Stage Guild
by Mary Lincer - Feb 8, 2026

What did our critic think of HAPPY DAYS at Washington Stage Guild?
Bill Irwin's ON BECKETT Begins Performances Next Week
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 6, 2026

Performances of On Beckett, conceived and performed by Bill Irwin (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Sesame Street), will begin next week at Shakespeare Theatre Company.
ON BECKETT & More Lead Washington, DC's February 2026 Top Theatre Shows
by Team BWW - Jan 30, 2026

Washington, DC is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for February 2026 include On Beckett and more.
Photos: SPANISH ORANGES in Rehearsal at the Playground Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jan 29, 2026

All new rehearsal photos have been released from the world premiere of Spanish Oranges, the debut play by Alba Arikha, Samuel Beckett’s goddaughter, with direction from Myriam Cyr. Check out the photos here!
WAITING FOR GADOT To Premiere At Chain Theatre’s Winter One-Act Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 13, 2026

Annabel McConnachie's new absurdist comedy, Waiting for Gadot will premiere at the Chain Theatre's Winter One-Act Festival with performances scheduled for February.
Stratford Festival 2026 Season Goes On Sale Saturday
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 9, 2026

Tickets for the Stratford Festival's highly anticipated 2026 season go on sale this Saturday, allowing audiences to secure their seats for a year of theatrical magic.
WAITING FOR GODOT Enters Final Week of Performances on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 30, 2025

There are only 7 performances left to see Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in Jamie Lloyd’s Broadway production of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece Waiting For Godot.
Washington Stage Guild’s 40th Season Continues With HAPPY DAYS
by Stephi Wild - Dec 23, 2025

The Washington Stage Guild will continue its 2025-2026 season with a return to famed playwright Samuel Beckett and his 1961 classic Happy Days. Learn more here!
SPANISH ORANGES Will Make World Premiere in London in 2026
by Stephi Wild - Dec 19, 2025

The world premiere of Spanish Oranges, the debut play by Alba Arikha, Samuel Beckett’s Goddaughter, with direction from Myriam Cyr, will take place at The Playground Theatre in West London next year. 
Center Theatre Group Creates New Works Development Pipeline
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 8, 2025

Center Theatre Group has in place a new developmental pipeline for plays and musicals, created by Snehal Desai, CTG’s Brindell & Milton Gottlieb Artistic Director.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Samuel Beckett written?

Samuel Beckett has written 23 shows including Embers (Playwright), Play/ The Lover (Playwright), Krapp's Last Tape/ The Zoo Story (Playwright), Happy Days (Playwright), Oh! Calcutta! (Material), Jack MacGowran in the Works of Samuel Beckett (Material), Happy Days/ Act Without Words 1 (Playwright), Krapp's Last Tape/ Not I (Playwright), Mercier & Camier (Source Material), Play and Other Plays (Playwright), Samuel Beckett's Ohio Impromptu, Catastrophe, What Where (Playwright), Rockaby (Playwright), Endgame (Playwright), All Strange Away (Playwright), I'll Go On (Source Material), Happy Days (Playwright), Texts for Nothing (Playwright), Krapp's Last Tape (Playwright), Beckett/Albee (Playwright), Beckett Shorts (Playwright), Waiting for Godot (Playwright), All That Fall (Playwright), Endgame (Playwright).

What awards has Samuel Beckett been nominated for?

Samuel Beckett has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. These include Best Revival at the Olivier Awards for "Endgame," Special Citation at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and multiple nominations for Playwriting at the Obie Awards for plays such as "Ohio Impromptu," "What Where," "Catastrophe," and "Pocket." He has also received nominations for Best Foreign Play and Best Play at the Obie Awards for plays like "Not I," "Play," and "Happy Days," as well as a Distinguished Play nomination for "Krapp's Last Tape." Additionally, Beckett's play "Endgame" was nominated for Best Foreign Play at the Obie Awards, and "Waiting for Godot" was recognized as the Most Controversial Play at the Evening Standard Awards.

What awards has Samuel Beckett won?

Samuel Beckett has won several awards throughout his career. These include a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Playwriting awards from the Obie Awards for "Ohio Impromptu," "What Where," "Catastrophe," and "Pocket," a Best Foreign Play award from the Obie Awards for "Not I," a Best Play award from the Obie Awards for "Play," a Best Foreign Play award from the Obie Awards for "Happy Days," a Distinguished Play award from the Obie Awards for "Krapp's Last Tape," a Best Foreign Play award from the Obie Awards for "Endgame," and a Most Controversial Play award from the Evening Standard Awards for "Waiting for Godot."

Get Samuel Beckett Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos