David Mamet
Birth Place: Chicago, IL, USA
All-Female GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Set for The Old Vic (Apr 13, 2026)
Atlantic Theater Company Co-Founder Mary McCann Named OWU 2026 Commencement Speaker (Apr 10, 2026)
Mamet’s OLEANNA Returns to the Stage in São Paulo with an Immersive, Confrontational New Production (Apr 6, 2026)
BIO
David Mamet is a prolific playwright, screenwriter, and director known for his distinct style and sharp dialogue. Born in Chicago in 1947, Mamet began his career as a playwright in the 1970s, quickly gaining a reputation for his gritty, realistic portrayals of working-class characters.
Mamet's breakthrough came in 1976 with his play "American Buffalo," which premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago before moving to Broadway the following year. The play, which follows a group of small-time crooks planning a heist, was praised for its raw, naturalistic dialogue and won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play.
In the years that followed, Mamet continued to write plays that explored the darker corners of American society, including "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1984), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and "Oleanna" (1992), a controversial play about sexual harassment on college campuses.
Mamet also found success as a screenwriter, penning scripts for films such as "The Verdict" (1982), "The Untouchables" (1987), and "Wag the Dog" (1997). His screenplay for "The Untouchables" earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In addition to his work in theater and film, Mamet has also written several novels and worked as a director for both stage and screen. He made his directorial debut with the film "House of Games" (1987) and has since directed several other films, including "The Spanish Prisoner" (1997) and "Redbelt" (2008).
Mamet's most recent work includes the play "The Penitent," which premiered Off-Broadway in 2017. The play, which centers on a psychiatrist who refuses to testify in a court case, explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the nature of truth.
Photos
byhelenmaybanks.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
From left, actress Rebecca Pidgeon and David Mamet arrive for the opening night performance of "Blithe Spirit" at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on December 14, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)
From: Photo Flash: BLITHE SPIRIT National Tour, Starring Angela Lansbury, Opens in Los Angeles!
Productions
Writing
Source Material
Movies
[ 1979 ] Writer
[ 1981 ] Writer
[ 1982 ] Writer
[ 1986 ]
[ 1987 ] Herb
[ 1987 ] Writer
[ 1987 ] Writer
[ 1988 ] Writer
[ 1989 ] Writer
[ 1991 ] Writer
[ 1992 ] Writer
[ 1992 ] Writer
[ 1992 ] Writer
[ 1994 ] Writer
[ 1994 ] Writer
[ 1994 ] Writer
[ 1996 ]
[ 1996 ]
[ 1997 ] Writer
[ 1997 ] Writer
[ 1997 ] Writer
[ 1998 ]
[ 1999 ] Writer
[ 1999 ] Writer
[ 2000 ] Writer
[ 2001 ] Writer
[ 2001 ] Writer
[ 2004 ] Writer
[ 2005 ] Writer
[ 2008 ]
[ 2008 ] writer/director
[ 2010 ]
[ 2013 ] Writer
[ 2014 ]
[ 2015 ]
[ 2025 ] based on a play by
TV Shows
David
[ 2006-2009 ] Creator
David Mamet
Awards and Nominations
David MametBoston Marriage
David Mamet, The Cryptogram
David Mamet, The Cryptogram
winner
David Mamet, Cryptogram
David Mamet, The Cryptogram
David Mamet, The Cryptogram
David Mamet, Oleanna
David Mamet, Speed the Plow
David Mamet, Speed-the-Plow
David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross
winner
David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross
winner
David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross
David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross
David MametEdmund
winner
David MametGlengarry Glen Ross
David Mamet, The Water Engine
David Mamet, American Buffalo
winner
David Mamet, American Buffalo
winner
David Mamet, American Buffalo
winner
David Mamet, Sexual Perversity in Chicago
Videos
Video: Michael McKean Recalls the Original Production of GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-13 10:20:47
Video: Bill Burr Shares Backstory for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Character
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-01 10:10:03
Video: Shia LaBeouf Stars in First Trailer for David Mamet's HENRY JOHNSON Film
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-16 12:13:47
Video: Bill Burr Debunks Matinee Myths on LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-04 10:27:08
Video: How Nathan Lane's Endorsement Landed Bill Burr a Role in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-01 11:19:05
Video: Bill Burr Discusses the Surprising Humor in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-20 16:21:19
Video: Bill Burr Comments on GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Previews, Broadway Audiences on THE TONIGHT SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-19 11:45:02
Video: Watch Raúl Esparza Sing 'Come to Your Senses' at MCC MISCAST22
by Michael Major - 2025-03-17 16:42:45
Video: Bill Burr Shares Why GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Remains Relevant
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-13 12:51:53
Video: Kieran Culkin Talks GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Rehearsals, Oscar Nom on THE TONIGHT SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-02-07 11:32:19
Video: Bill Burr Reveals the Show That Ignited His Passion for Acting on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-01-15 11:35:40
Video: Patti LuPone Sings 'I Dreamed a Dream' from LES MISERABLES at Carnegie Hall
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-08-10 14:50:08
Video: LuPone & Everett Sing Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young' at Carnegie Hall
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-08-03 14:56:24
VIDEO: Sam Rockwell Talks AMERICAN BUFFALO Tony Nomination on LATE NIGHT
by Michael Major - 2022-05-11 10:14:56
VIDEO: Sam Rockwell Talks Rehearsing AMERICAN BUFFALO Throughout the Pandemic on the TONIGHT SHOW
by Michael Major - 2022-04-19 09:45:11
VIDEO: Laurence Fishburne, Sam Rockwell & Darren Criss Talk AMERICAN BUFFALO
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-03-22 10:07:40
VIDEO: Rehearsal Footage of David Mamet's THE WOODS at Southwark Playhouse
by Marissa Tomeo - 2022-02-19 14:21:54
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 13, 2026
The Old Vic will present David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glen Ross with an all-female cast this summer. The production will run from June 4 to July 18, 2026.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 10, 2026
Ohio Wesleyan University has selected Mary McCann, acclaimed actor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Atlantic Theater Company, to deliver the keynote address at its 182nd commencement ceremony.
by Claudio Erlichman - Apr 6, 2026
A new Brazilian staging of Oleanna by David Mamet opens at the Teatro Vivo, offering an intense and immersive take on the playwright’s provocative drama. Directed by Daniela Stirbulov and starring Velson D’Souza and Julianna Gerais, the production revisits the explosive encounter between a university professor and his student, as a request for academic help spirals into accusations of misconduct. Performed for just 50 spectators, the staging places audiences face-to-face on opposite sides of the action, transforming them into a silent jury. Exploring power, communication, and the shifting nature of truth, Oleanna remains a gripping reflection of today’s social debates.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 6, 2026
David Gersten, Vice-President of ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), died on Monday, April 6 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 3, 2026
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the most prestigious honors in American theater, celebrating outstanding works that have made a significant impact on the stage. Here's a closer look at what the Pulitzer Prize for Drama is, how it works, and why it matters.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 17, 2026
The world premiere of The Best Boarding House in Delaware, a new play by acclaimed writer/director Marja-Lewis Ryan (The L Word; Generation Q, Henry Johnson), now playing through April 11 at The Electric Lodge Theater in Venice, CA.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 9, 2026
Victory Gardens Theater has hired Edward Torres as interim artistic director. Torres is a well-respected Chicago actor and the former artistic director of Chicago’s Teatro Vista Productions.
by Atlantic Theater Company - Mar 6, 2026
Romain Mereau is a 2019 graduate of Atlantic Acting School’s Full-Time Conservatory program.
by Itai Yasur - Feb 19, 2026
Master illusionist Dendy gives you the gift of a stone in your shoe. See what our critic had to say.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 16, 2026
BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that acclaimed actor Robert Duvall, known for roles in films like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Godfather series, has passed away at the age of 95.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 28, 2026
The date has been set for the 70th Drama Desk Awards! The 2026 Drama Desk Awards will be held at The Town Hall on May 17, 2026. Learn more about the event here!
by Gillian Blum - Jan 11, 2026
Vermont Repertory Theatre will present a bold and traditional staging of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya this winter, with the production running February 28 through March 7, 2026 at the Black Box Theatre at Main Street Landing in Burlington.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2026
Walnut Street Theatre has revealed its 218th season of live entertainment and mark its 44th season as a not-for-profit producing theatre company. The season includes Frozen, Glengarry Glen Ross and more.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 8, 2026
Lachat Farm, produces the world premiere of Hole in the Wall, a comedy written by Richard Rogers-Award winning playwright Jeff Hughes, directed by Christopher Denham, the multi-talented actor-writer-director whose screen credits famously include Oppenheimer, Argo, Shutter Island, and Billions.
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 18, 2025
The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) will honor Laurence Fishburne with the inaugural James Earl Jones Prize at the 2026 Voice Arts Awards, taking place on January 18 at the Beverly Hilton.
![SUZY EDDIE IZZARD TALKS SHAKESPEEARE N'STUFF [FORSOOTH] is Coming to Chicago Shakespe Photo](https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/columnpiccloud/200200-e18100e22459a5182a4513627caa075e.jpg)
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 3, 2025
Chicago Shakespeare Theater will present a one-night-only benefit event: Suzy Eddie Izzard Talks Shakespeare N’Stuff [Forsooth] in January in The Yard.
by Michael Major - Dec 2, 2025
Marla Mindelle and Josh Sharp will star as Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett, respectively, in a developmental production of A Kidman Carol: A Gay Dementia On Australian Dames. The play is written and directed by Kevin Zak (Ginger Twinsies).
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 25, 2025
New York Stage and Film's 40th Anniversary Gala, commemorating 40 years of developing new works and a reunion of acclaimed artists at SAF, will honor Board Member Douglas Harmon and more.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 21, 2025
American Conservatory Theater announced that Tony Award–winning Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon will depart the Bay Area’s premier nonprofit theater organization at the close of the 2025/26 season.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 14, 2025
Tony Award-nominated Eddie Izzard will bring Shakespeare's Hamlet to life in a dynamic new staging of the iconic play, adapted by Mark Izzard and directed by Selina Cadell, in Los Angeles.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
David Mamet has written 29 shows including A Life in the Theatre (Playwright), The Water Engine (Playwright), Duck Variations (Playwright), The Woods (Playwright), Prairie du Chien and The Shawl (Playwright), Orchards (Adaptation), Urban Blight (Bookwriter), Bobby Gould in Hell (Playwright), Reunion (Playwright), Oleanna (Playwright), Death Defying Acts (Playwright), The Cryptogram (Playwright), Edmond (Playwright), The Old Neighborhood (Playwright), The Water Engine/Mr. Happiness (Playwright), Sexual Perversity in Chicago-The Duck Variations (Author), Boston Marriage (Playwright), Romance (Playwright), Glengarry Glen Ross (Playwright), The Voysey Inheritance (Adaptation), November (Playwright), Speed-The-Plow (Playwright), American Buffalo (Playwright), Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet: Keep Your Pantheon and School (Playwright), Oleanna (Playwright), Race (Playwright), China Doll (Author), The Penitent (Playwright), Bitter Wheat (Okaywright).
Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Boston Marriage, Outstanding One Person Show (Drama Desk Awards) for The Cryptogram, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Cryptogram, Best Play (Obie Awards) for Cryptogram, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Cryptogram, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Cryptogram, Outstanding New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Oleanna, Outstanding New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Speed the Plow, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Speed-the-Plow, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross, Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Glengarry Glen Ross , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Edmund, Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross, Best New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Water Engine, Best New American Play (Drama Desk Awards) for American Buffalo, Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for American Buffalo, Best New American Play (Obie Awards) for American Buffalo and Best New American Play (Obie Awards) for Sexual Perversity in Chicago.
David Mamet has received several prestigious awards, including: - Best Play (Obie Awards) for Cryptogram - Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Glengarry Glen Ross - Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Glengarry Glen Ross - Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for American Buffalo - Best New American Play (Obie Awards) for American Buffalo - Best New American Play (Obie Awards) for Sexual Perversity in Chicago.
Videos