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{{short description|American actor and screenwriter}}
{{Infobox actor
{{Infobox person
| name = Tracy Letts
| image = Replace this image male.svg
| name = Tracy Letts
| image = TracyLetts-byPhilipRomano.jpg
| imagesize = 180px
| caption =
| image_size =
| birthname =
| caption = Letts in 2022
| birthdate = {{Birth date and age|1965|7|4}}
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|7|4}}
| birthplace = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], [[United States|USA]]
| birth_place = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| othername =
| occupation = [[Playwright]], [[actor]]
| death_date =
| spouse =
| death_place =
| yearsactive =
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|Playwright|screenwriter| actor}}
| website =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Carrie Coon]]|2013}}
| tonyawards = '''[[Tony Award for Best Play]]''' <br>2008 ''[[August: Osage County]]''
| years_active = 1988–present
| awards = '''Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play'''<br>2008 ''[[August: Osage County]]''<br>'''Pulitzer Prize for Drama'''<br>2008 ''[[August: Osage County]]''
| children = 2
| parents = [[Billie Letts]]<br>[[Dennis Letts]]
| awards = [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]]<br>[[Tony Award for Best Play]]<br>[[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]]
}}
}}
'''Tracy S. Letts''' (born July 4, 1965) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He started his career at the [[Steppenwolf Theatre]] before making his Broadway debut as a playwright for ''[[August: Osage County]]'' (2007), for which he received the [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] and the [[Tony Award for Best Play]]. As an actor, he won the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] for the [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] revival of ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' (2013).<ref name="Pulitzer">{{cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2008-Drama|title=The 2008 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Drama|publisher=pulitzer.org}}</ref>


As a playwright, Letts is known for having written for the [[Steppenwolf Theatre]], Off-Broadway and [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] theatre. His works include ''[[Killer Joe (play)|Killer Joe]]'', ''[[Bug (play)|Bug]]'', ''[[Man from Nebraska]]'', ''[[August: Osage County]]'', ''[[Superior Donuts]]'', ''Linda Vista'', and ''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''. Letts adapted three of his plays into films, ''[[Bug (2006 film)|Bug]]'' and ''[[Killer Joe (film)|Killer Joe]]'', both directed by [[William Friedkin]], and ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]'', directed by [[John Wells (filmmaker)|John Wells]]. His 2009 play ''[[Superior Donuts]]'' was adapted into a [[Superior Donuts (TV series)|television series of the same name]]. As a stage actor, Letts has performed in various classic plays with the Steppenwolf Theatre since 1988. He made his acting Broadway debut as George in the revival of [[Edward Albee]]'s play ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'', which earned him a [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]]. He continued acting on the Broadway stage in ''[[The Realistic Joneses]]'', ''[[All My Sons]]'', and ''The Minutes''.
'''Tracy Letts''' (born [[July 4]], [[1965]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]])<ref>{{cite news | author= | title=Deutsche Erstaufführung des Off-Bradway-Erfolges von 2004 | url=http://www.theaterszene-koeln.de/stueck.php?id=18749 | work=Theaterszene Köln: Stücke | date= | accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> is a Pulitzer-Prize winning [[United States|American]] [[playwright]] and [[actor]]. He has been an ensemble member of the [[Steppenwolf Theatre Company]] since 2002.<ref>{{cite news | author= | title=Tracy Letts's Productions at Steppenwolf | url=http://www.steppenwolf.org/ensemble/members/productions.aspx?id=41 | work=Steppenwolf Theatre Company | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref>


In film and television, he is known for his portrayal of [[Andrew Lockhart]] in seasons 3 and 4 of [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]'s ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'', and [[Bernie Madoff|pyramid-scheme con-artist]] Nick on the [[HBO]] comedy ''[[Divorce (TV series)|Divorce]]''. In 2017, Letts starred in three critically acclaimed films: [[Azazel Jacobs]]' ''[[The Lovers (2017 film)|The Lovers]]'', [[Greta Gerwig]]'s ''[[Lady Bird (film)|Lady Bird]]'', and [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]''. ''Lady Bird'' earned Letts a nomination for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]. In 2019, he portrayed [[Henry Ford II]] in [[James Mangold]]'s ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]'' and Mr. Dashwood in Gerwig's ''[[Little Women (2019 film)|Little Women]]'', the two also receiving [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] nominations.
==Biography==
Letts is the son of the best-selling [[author]] [[Billie Letts]], and the late one-time college [[professor]], later [[actor]] [[Dennis Letts]].<ref name=nyt> {{cite news | author=Associated Press | title=Dennis Letts, 73, a Professor Who Became Broadway Actor, Dies | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/theater/25letts.html?_r=1&em&ex=1204606800 | work=The New York Times | date=2008-02-25 | accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> His brother Shawn is a [[jazz music|jazz musician]] and composer. He also has a brother, Dana. Tracy grew up in [[Durant, Oklahoma]] and he graduated from [[Durant High School]]. After graduating in the early 80s he moved to [[Dallas]]. He stayed there for two years, while he waited tables and worked in telemarketing, and he also got the part in a one-man play, Jerry Flemmons' ''O Dammit!'', which was part of a ''New Playwrights Series'' sponsored by the [[Southern Methodist University]].


==Early life==
Letts moved to [[Chicago]] at the age of 20, and worked for the next 11 years at [[Steppenwolf Theatre Company|Steppenwolf]] and [[Famous Door]]. In 1991, a time when he had an alcohol problem, he wrote the play ''Killer Joe''. (He would later join [[Alcoholics Anonymous]], and has been sober ever since.) Two years later, the play premiered at the [[Next Lab Theater]] in Chicago and then at 29th Street Rep in NYC. Since then, ''Killer Joe'' has been performed in at least 15 countries in 12 languages.<ref name=observer>{{cite news | author=Carlton Stowers | title=Sweet Revenge | url=http://dallasobserver.com/2003-11-27/news/sweet-revenge | work=The Dallas Observer | date=27 November 2003| accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> In 2008, he won a Tony for ''August: Osage County''.
Letts was born in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], to author [[Billie Letts]] ({{nee|Gipson}}) and college professor and actor [[Dennis Letts]].<ref name="Billie Letts">{{cite web|url=http://www.readersread.com/features/billieletts2.htm|title=Interview with Billie Letts|work=readersread.org}}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press | title=Dennis Letts, 73, a Professor Who Became Broadway Actor, Dies | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/theater/25letts.html?_r=1&em&ex=1204606800 | work=The New York Times | date=2008-02-25 | access-date=2008-07-03}}</ref> He has two brothers, Shawn, a musician, and Dana. Letts was raised in [[Durant, Oklahoma]], and graduated from [[Durant High School (Oklahoma)|Durant High School]] in the early 1980s. He moved to [[Dallas]], where he waited tables and worked in telemarketing while beginning his acting career. He appeared in Jerry Flemmons' ''O Dammit!'', which was part of a new playwrights' series sponsored by [[Southern Methodist University]].


Letts moved to [[Chicago]] at the age of 20, working for the next 11 years at [[Steppenwolf Theatre Company]] and Famous Door. He is still an active member of Steppenwolf. He was a founding member of Bang Bang Spontaneous Theatre, whose members included [[Greg Kotis]], [[Michael Shannon]], Paul Dillon, and [[Amy Pietz]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Tracy Letts's Productions at Steppenwolf | url=http://www.steppenwolf.org/ensemble/members/productions.aspx?id=41 | work=Steppenwolf Theatre Company | year=2008 | access-date=2008-07-03}}</ref> In 1991, Letts wrote the play ''[[Killer Joe (play)|Killer Joe]]''. Two years later, the play premiered at the Next Lab Theater in [[Evanston, Illinois]], followed by the 29th Street Rep in [[New York City]]. Since then, ''Killer Joe'' has been performed in a number of countries in 12 languages.<ref name=observer>{{cite news | author=Carlton Stowers | title=Sweet Revenge | url=http://dallasobserver.com/2003-11-27/news/sweet-revenge | work=The Dallas Observer | date=27 November 2003| access-date=2008-07-03}}</ref>
His mother Billie Letts has said about his writing, "I try to be upbeat and funny. Everybody in Tracy's stories gets naked or dead."<ref name=observer/>Every one of the three plays he's written is about people struggling with moral and spiritual questions. He says he has drawn inspiration from the plays of [[Tennessee Williams]] and the novels of [[William Faulkner]] and [[Jim Thompson]]. Letts considers sound to be a very strong story telling tool for theater.<ref>{{cite web | author=Aifen Wang | title=In-your-face Theatre with In Your Face Sound Design | url=http://www.stageresearch.com/showcases/indexArchived.aspx?0612_showcase.html | publisher=Stage Research | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref>


His mother, Billie Letts, has said of his work, "I try to be upbeat and funny. Everybody in Tracy's stories gets naked or dead."<ref name=observer /> Letts's plays have depicted people struggling with moral and spiritual questions. He says he was inspired by the plays of [[Tennessee Williams]] and the novels of [[William Faulkner]] and [[Jim Thompson (writer)|Jim Thompson]]. Letts states that he considers sounds to be effective "storytelling tools" for theater.<ref>{{cite web | author=Aifen Wang | title=In-your-face Theatre with In Your Face Sound Design | url=http://www.stageresearch.com/showcases/indexArchived.aspx?0612_showcase.html | publisher=Stage Research | year=2008 | access-date=2008-07-03 | archive-date=2008-06-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612070557/http://www.stageresearch.com/showcases/indexArchived.aspx?0612_showcase.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Work==
===Writer===
* 1998 ''[[Killer Joe]]''
* 2003 ''[[Man from Nebraska]]''
* 2004 ''[[Bug (play)|Bug]]''
* 2007 ''[[Bug (2006 film)|Bug]]'' (screenplay)
* 2007 ''[[August: Osage County]]''
* 2008 ''[[Superior Donuts]]''


==Career==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}


===Stage===
=== Theatre ===
During the late 1980s through the late 2000s, Letts acted in many of the [[Steppenwolf Theatre Company]]'s productions, starring in [[Steve Martin]]'s ''[[Picasso at the Lapin Agile]]'' (1994).
*1988 ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]''
*1994 ''[[Picasso At The Lapin Agile]]''
*1999 ''[[Three Days of Rain]]''
*2001 ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
*2002 ''[[The Dazzle]]''
*2003 ''[[Don Delillo]]''
*2003 ''[[Homebody/Kabul]]''
*2003 ''[[Man From Nebraska]]''
*2004 ''[[The Dresser]]''
*2005 ''[[Last of the Boys]]''
*2005 ''[[Orson's Shadow]]''
*2005 ''[[The Pain and the Itch]]''
*2006 ''[[The Pillowman]]''
*2006 ''[[The Well-Appointed Room]]''
*2007 ''[[Betrayal]]''


In 2012, Letts gained attention for his Broadway debut performance in the revival of [[Edward Albee]]'s ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' at the [[Booth Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf-with-tracy-letts-and-amy-morton-will-arrive-on-broadway-in-september-com-193689|title=Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, with Tracy Letts and Amy Morton, Will Arrive On Broadway in September|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=May 17, 2012|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> He received positive reviews and won the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/theater/theaterspecial/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf-at-the-tonys.html|title='Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' at the Tonys|last=Schuessler|first=Jennifer|date=2013-06-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
{{col-break}}


In 2019, Letts appeared in the Broadway revival of [[Arthur Miller]]'s ''[[All My Sons]]'' with [[Annette Bening]] at [[Roundabout Theatre Company]]'s [[American Airlines Theatre]]. The show officially opened on April 22, 2019 and closed on June 23, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/shows/all-my-sons/|title=All My Sons|website=Broadway.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>
===Filmography===

*1988 ''[[Paramedics (film)|Paramedics]]'' - Van owner
Letts has written over ten plays.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} His most famous, ''[[August: Osage County]]'', premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on June 28, 2007. It had its Broadway debut at the [[Imperial Theatre]] on December 4, 2007; the production transferred to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]'s [[Music Box Theatre]] on April 29, 2008. The Broadway show closed on June 28, 2009, after 648 performances and 18 previews. The show went on to receive seven [[Tony Award]] nominations, winning six, including [[Tony Award for Best Play|Best Play]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/06/the_tony_awards_complete_list.html|title=Tony Winners: 'In the Heights,' 'August: Osage County'|website=www.vulture.com|date=16 June 2008 |access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> The play won Letts the [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] in 2008. Letts has also been a finalist for the Pulitzer drama prize for his plays ''[[Man from Nebraska]]'' and ''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''; the Pulitzer committee described ''The Minutes'' as a "shocking drama set in a seemingly mundane city council meeting that acidly articulates a uniquely American toxicity that feels both historic and contemporary."<ref>[http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/tracy-letts-0 "Finalists Tracy Letts"] pulitzer.org, retrieved April 16, 2018</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/business/media/pulitzer-prize-winners.html|title=2018 Pulitzer Prize Winners: Full List|work=The New York Times |date=16 April 2018 |access-date=2018-04-16|language=en}}</ref> Letts starred in the Broadway production of ''The Minutes'', his first time acting in one of his own plays.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKinley |first1=Jesse |title=Tracy Letts Can't Fight With His Playwright |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/theater/tracy-letts-the-minutes.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=31 July 2024 |date=26 February 2020}}</ref>
*1992 ''[[Straight Talk]]'' - Sean

*1995 ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' - Henry (TV)
=== Television ===
*1996 ''[[Early Edition]]'' - Jonathan / Marksman (TV)
Early in his acting career, in the 1990s through the mid 2000s, Letts acted in TV shows including ''[[Prison Break]]'', ''[[The District]]'', ''[[Strong Medicine]]'', ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]'', ''[[Judging Amy]]'', ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'', ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Early Edition]]'', and ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''.
*1997 ''[[Seinfeld]]'' - Counterguy (TV)

*1998 ''[[Chicago Cab]]'' - Sports fan
In 2013–14, Letts joined the cast of [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]'s ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' as US Senator Andrew Lockhart. He was nominated with the rest of the cast for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble.]]
*1998 ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'' - Lomax (TV)

*1998 ''[[U.S. Marshals (film)|U.S. Marshals]]'' - Sheriff Poe
In 2016, Letts joined [[HBO]]'s marital comedy-drama ''[[Divorce (TV series)|Divorce]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/divorce-renewed-season-3-hbo-1203018852/|title='Divorce' Renewed for Season 3 at HBO With New Showrunner, Smaller Episode Count|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=2018-11-02|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>
*1999 ''[[Guinevere (film)|Guinevere]]'' - Zack

*1999 ''[[Judging Amy]]'' - Mr. Kleinman (TV)
In 2018, Letts was cast in the second season of [[USA Network]]'s anthology crime drama series ''[[The Sinner (TV series)|The Sinner]]'', opposite [[Bill Pullman]] and [[Carrie Coon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/05/the-sinner-season-2-photos-cast-tracy-letts-emmys-1201966068/|title='The Sinner' Season 2 Reveals First-Look Photos and Who's Joining Carrie Coon in the Mystery Crime Series|last=Nguyen|first=Hanh|date=2018-05-18|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> He played [[Jack McKinney (basketball)|Jack McKinney]] in HBO's 2022 series ''[[Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty]]''.
*2000 ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]'' - Mr. Adams (TV)

*2001 ''[[Strong Medicine]]'' - Ken (TV)
=== Film ===
*2001 ''[[The District]]'' - Brad Gilroy (TV)
Letts has starred in [[Adam McKay]]'s 2015 ensemble piece, ''[[The Big Short (film)|The Big Short]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/the-big-short-gets-5-oscar-nominations-including-best-picture|title=The Big Short Gets 5 Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture|website=oscar.go.com|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> 2016's ''[[Wiener-Dog (film)|Wiener-Dog]]'', ''[[Christine (2016 film)|Christine]]'', and ''[[Elvis & Nixon]]''; and [[James Schamus]]'s film adaptation of the [[Philip Roth]] novel, ''[[Indignation (film)|Indignation]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/indignation-film-review-sundance-1201687679/|title=Sundance Film Review: 'Indignation'|last=Debruge|first=Peter|date=2016-01-25|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Indignation (2016)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/indignation|work=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> as well as the true-story crime thriller adaptation ''[[Imperium (2016 film)|Imperium]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Imperium (2016)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imperium|work=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

Letts then appeared in the 2017 films ''[[The Lovers (2017 film)|The Lovers]]'', ''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/post-16-films-stars-real-life-inspirations-1054331/item/fritz-beebe-portrayed-by-tracy-letts-1066929|title=Fritz Beebe, portrayed by Tracy Letts - 'The Post': 16 of the Film's Stars and Their Real-Life Inspirations|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 December 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> and ''[[Lady Bird (film)|Lady Bird]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Lady Bird (2017)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lady_bird|work=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2017/12/13/16772210/sag-awards-nominations-lady-bird-three-billboards|title=SAG Awards Nominations: 'Lady Bird' Cleans Up, 'Phantom Thread' Flops|last=Surrey|first=Miles|date=2017-12-13|website=The Ringer|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>

In 2019, Letts portrayed [[Henry Ford II]] in [[James Mangold]]'s sports drama film ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]'', and played Mr. Dashwood in ''[[Little Women (2019 film)|Little Women]]'', a film adaptation of [[Louisa May Alcott]]'s [[Little Women|novel of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/|title=Oscar Nominations 2020: The Complete List|date=2020-01-13|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113151810/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/|archive-date=January 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Letts has written screenplays for three feature films based on his plays: ''[[Bug (2006 film)|Bug]]'' (directed by [[William Friedkin]]), ''[[Killer Joe (film)|Killer Joe]]'' (also directed by Friedkin); and ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]'' (directed by [[John Wells (TV producer)|John Wells]]). He also wrote the screenplay for the 2021 [[Netflix]] feature film ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]'', starring [[Amy Adams]], based on the [[The Woman in the Window (novel)|eponymous psychological thriller]] by [[A. J. Finn|A.J. Finn]].

==Personal life==
[[File:Tracy Letts and Carrie Coon at the premiere of August- Osage County, Toronto Film Festival 2013 -a.jpg|thumb|Letts and [[Carrie Coon]] at the premiere of ''August: Osage County'', [[Toronto Film Festival]] 2013]]
He married actress [[Carrie Coon]] in September 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fierberg |first=Ruthie |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Why Tony Nominee Carrie Coon and Pulitzer Prize Winner Tracy Letts Got Married in a Hospital |url=https://playbill.com/article/why-tony-nominee-carrie-coon-and-pulitzer-prize-winner-tracy-letts-got-married-in-a-hospital |access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref> They have two children, born in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Coon and Husband Tracy Letts Expecting Their First Child |url=https://people.com/parents/carrie-coon-pregnant-expecting-first-child-tracy-letts/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=It's a Boy! The Post Stars Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts Welcome Son Haskell |url=https://people.com/parents/carrie-coon-tracy-letts-welcome-son-haskell/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref> and 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hogan |first=Michael |date=2021-08-15 |title=Actor Carrie Coon: 'My husband says I have ice-water in my veins' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/15/carrie-coon-the-nest-ghostbusters-afterlife-fargo-jude-law |access-date=2024-03-16 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How Carrie Coon Hid Her Pregnancy on 'The Gilded Age' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.etonline.com/how-carrie-coon-hid-her-pregnancy-on-the-gilded-age-exclusive-178143 |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Entertainment Tonight |language=en-US}}</ref> He has been sober since 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsCQg8JM5Rw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/ZsCQg8JM5Rw| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=The Interview Show &#124; Tracy Letts| date=26 January 2018|accessdate=Oct 17, 2021|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was in a relationship with actor Holly Wantuch until her sudden death in 1998.<ref name="r183">{{cite web | last=Weber | first=Bruce | title=For an Okie Playwright and Actor, A Life With Drama of Its Own | website=The New York Times | date=2004-04-14 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/theater/for-an-okie-playwright-and-actor-a-life-with-drama-of-its-own.html | access-date=2024-12-11}}</ref> Letts was once engaged to actress [[Sarah Paulson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/fashion/sarah-paulson-opens-up-about-dating-older-women-holland-taylor.html?_r=0|title=Sarah Paulson Opens Up About Acting, Marcia Clark and Dating Older Women|last=Schulman|first=Michael|date=March 2, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 9, 2018|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821202257/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/fashion/sarah-paulson-opens-up-about-dating-older-women-holland-taylor.html?_r=0|url-status=live}} {{closed access}}</ref>

==Work as an author==

===Theatre===
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
! Ref.
|-
|1993
|''[[Killer Joe (play)|Killer Joe]]''
|
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Bug (play)|Bug]]''
|
|
|-
|2003
|''[[Man from Nebraska]]''
|
|
|-
|2007
|''[[August: Osage County]]''
|
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Superior Donuts]]''
|
|
|-
|2009
|''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]''
| Adaptation
|<ref>{{cite web| title=Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Tracy Letts | url=http://www.artistsrep.org/onstage/2008---2009-season/three-sisters.aspx | publisher=[[Artists Repertory Theatre]]| access-date=October 26, 2009 | quote=This adaptation of the Russian masterpiece was commissioned by Artists Rep as part three of its four-part Chekhov project. Letts offers a fresh, new look at the decay of the privileged class and the search for meaning in the modern world, through the eyes of three dissatisfied sisters who desperately long for their treasured past.}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|''The Stretch''
|
|<ref>{{cite web| title="TEN" earns its rating at The Gift Theatre - Chicago Sun-Times | url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/post/ten-earns-rating-gift-theatre/}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
|''[[Mary Page Marlowe]]''
|
|<ref>{{cite web| title=Carrie Coon Among Cast Of 19 For Steppenwolf's World Premiere Of Tracy Letts Play |url=http://live-sun-times-entertainment.gotpantheon.com/entertainment-news/carrie-coon-among-cast-19-steppenwolfs-world-premiere-tracy-letts-play/ |publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]| access-date=December 7, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
|''Linda Vista''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons/2016-17/linda-vista/|title=Linda Vista {{!}} Steppenwolf Theatre|website=www.steppenwolf.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
|''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons/2017-18/the-minutes//|title=The Minutes {{!}} Steppenwolf Theatre|website=www.steppenwolf.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Screenwriter===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Bug (2006 film)|Bug]]''
| Adaptation of his play
|-
| 2007
| ''Cop Show''
| Short film
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Killer Joe (film)|Killer Joe]]''
| Adaptation of his play
|-
| 2013
| ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]''
| Adaptation of his play
|-
| 2021
| ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''
|
|-
|}

==Work as an actor==

===Theatre===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Theatre
|-
| 1988
|''[[The Glass Menagerie]]''
|
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 1991–1995
|Bang Bang Spontaneous Theatre
| Various characters
| Chicago, No Exit Cafe
|-
| 1994
|''[[Picasso At The Lapin Agile]]''
| Freddy
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 1999
|''[[Three Days of Rain]]''
| Walker
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2001
|''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| John Williamson
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2002
|''The Dazzle''
|
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2002
|''Miracle on 34th Street''
| Lawyer
| Chicago Center for Performing Arts
|-
| 2003
|''Homebody/Kabul''
|
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2004
|''[[The Dresser]]''
| Norman
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2005
|''Last of the Boys''
|
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
| 2005
|''[[Orson's Shadow]]''
| Kenneth Tynan
| Off-Broadway, [[Barrow Street Theatre]]
|-
|2005
|''The Pain and the Itch''
| Cash
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2006
|''[[The Pillowman]]''
| Tupolski
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2006
|''The Well-Appointed Room''
| Stewart
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2007
|''[[Betrayal (play)|Betrayal]]''
| Robert
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2009
|''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]]''
| Walter "Teach" Cole
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2010
| ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]''
| George
| Chicago, [[Steppenwolf Theatre]]
|-
|2012
|''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]''
| George
| Broadway, [[Booth Theatre]]
|-
|2014
|''[[The Realistic Joneses]]''
| Bob Jones
| Broadway, [[Lyceum Theatre (Broadway)|Lyceum Theatre]]
|-
|2019
| ''[[All My Sons]]''
| Joe Keller
| Broadway, [[American Airlines Theatre]]
|-
| 2020
| ''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''
| Mayor Superba
| Broadway, [[Cort Theatre]]
|-
| 2022
| ''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''
| Mayor Superba
| Broadway, [[Studio 54]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Finalist 'The Minutes' Sets Post-COVID 2022 Broadway Reopening, Plans Venue Switch|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/tracy-letts-pulitzer-finalist-the-minutes-sets-post-covid-2022-broadway-reopening-plans-venue-switch/ar-BB1b3I6x|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.msn.com}}</ref>
|}

===Film===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1988
| ''Paramedics''
| Van Owner
|
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Straight Talk]]''
| Sean
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998
| ''Chicago Cab''
| Sports Fan
|
|-
| ''[[U.S. Marshals (film)|U.S. Marshals]]''
| Sheriff Poe
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Guinevere (1999 film)|Guinevere]]''
| Zack
|
|-
| 2007
| ''Cop Show''
| Michael Cooke
| Short film
|-
| 2015
| ''[[The Big Short (film)|The Big Short]]''
| Lawrence Fields
|
|-
| rowspan="5"|2016
| ''[[Wiener-Dog (film)|Wiener-Dog]]''
| Danny
|
|-
| ''[[Christine (2016 film)|Christine]]''
| Michael Nelson
|
|-
| ''[[Elvis & Nixon]]''
| John Finlator
|
|-
| ''[[Indignation (film)|Indignation]]''
| Hawes D. Caudwell
|
|-
| ''[[Imperium (2016 film)|Imperium]]''
| Dallas Wolf
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|2017
| ''[[The Lovers (2017 film)|The Lovers]]''
| Michael
|
|-
| ''[[Lady Bird (film)|Lady Bird]]''
| Larry McPherson
|
|-
| ''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]''
| Fritz Beebe
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2019
| ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]''
| [[Henry Ford II]]
|
|-
| ''[[Little Women (2019 film)|Little Women]]''
| Mr. Dashwood
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[French Exit (2020 film)|French Exit]]''
| Franklin "Small Frank" Price (voice)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2021
| ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''
| Dr. Landy
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]''
| Jack
| Uncredited
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Deep Water (2022 film)|Deep Water]]''
| Don Wilson
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Eric Larue]]''
| Bill Verne
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| ''[[McVeigh (film)|McVeigh]]''
| [[Richard Snell (criminal)|Richard Snell]]
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Damon |date=2024-06-08 |title=‘McVeigh’ Review: Alfie Allen Impresses In This Chilling Account Of The Radicalization Of The Oklahoma Bomber – Tribeca Festival |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/mcveigh-review-alfie-allen-impresses-in-chilling-account-of-the-radicalization-of-the-oklahoma-bomber-tribeca-1235962889/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Saturday Night (2024 film)|Saturday Night]]''
|[[Herb Sargent]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=2024-09-01 |title='Saturday Night' Review: Jason Reitman Finds the Right Ensemble to Capture the Lunacy From Which 'SNL' Was Born |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/saturday-night-review-jason-reitman-snl-1236126420/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| TBA
| ''[[Rosebush Pruning]]''
|
| Post-production
|}

===Television===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''
| Henry
| Episode: "Jill's Surprise Party"
|-
| 1996–1997
| ''[[Early Edition]]''
| Jonathan / Marksman
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Seinfeld]]''
| Counterguy
| Episode: "[[The Strike (Seinfeld)|The Strike]]"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''
| Lomax
| Episode: "Drew and the Conspiracy"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Judging Amy]]''
| Mr. Kleinman
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]''
| Mr. Adams
| Episode: "Train Man"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Strong Medicine]]''
| Ken
| Episode: "Wednesday Night Fever"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[The District]]''
| Brad Gilroy
| Episode: "Melt Down"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Prison Break]]''
| Peter Tucci
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2013–2014
| ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]''
| Senator/Director Andrew Lockhart
| 17 episodes
|-
| 2016–2019
| ''[[Divorce (TV series)|Divorce]]''
| Nick
| 17 episodes
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Comrade Detective]]''
| Vasile (voice)
| Episode: "No Exit"
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Sinner (TV series)|The Sinner]]''
| Jack Novack
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2022–2023
| ''[[Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty]]''
| [[Jack McKinney (basketball)|Jack McKinney]]
| 9 episodes
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Mr. Throwback]]''
| Mitch Grossman
| 5 episodes
|-
| 2024
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Himself (voice)
| Episode: "[[Desperately Seeking Lisa]]"
|-
| TBA
| ''[[East of Eden (American TV series)|East of Eden]]''
| Cyrus Trask
| Upcoming series
|-
| TBA
| ''[[The Sensitive Kind]]''
|
| Upcoming series
|}


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
'''Theatre awards'''
;Awards
{| class = "wikitable"
* 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play - ''August: Osage County''
|-
* 2008 [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] - ''August: Osage County''
! Year
* 2008 Tony Award for Best Play - ''August: Osage County''
! Award
;Nominations
! Category
* 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama - ''Man from Nebraska''
! Work
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| 2004
| rowspan=2| [[Pulitzer Prize]]
| rowspan=2| [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Drama]]
| ''Man from Nebraska''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/tracy-letts|title= Man from Nebraska, by Tracy Letts|website= pulitzer.org|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2008
| rowspan=3| ''[[August: Osage County]]''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/tracy-letts|title= August: Osage County, by Tracy Letts|website= pulitzer.org|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[62nd Tony Awards|2008]]
| [[Tony Awards]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Play|Best Play]]
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americantheatrewing.org/legends/august-osage-county/|title= August: Osage County|website= americantheatrewing.org|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2008
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play|Outstanding Play]]
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marintheatre.org/press/press-releases/august-osage-county-winner-of-5-tony-awards-the-2008-pulitzer-prize-for-drama|title= August: Osage County|website= marintheatre.org|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[67th Tony Awards|2013]]
| [[Tony Awards]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Leading Actor in a Play]]
| rowspan=2| ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]''
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/steppenwolfs-tracy-letts-wins-best-actor-in-a-play-tony-award/1973890/|title= Steppenwolf's Tracy Letts Wins Best Actor in a Play Tony Award|website= nbcchicago.org|date= 10 June 2013|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2013
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play|Outstanding Actor in a Play]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| 2018
| [[Pulitzer Prize]]
| [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Drama]]
| rowspan=2| ''[[The Minutes (play)|The Minutes]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/tracy-letts-0|title= Finalist: The Minutes, by Tracy Letts|website= pulitzer.org|access-date= April 21, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[75th Tony Awards|2022]]
| [[Tony Awards]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Play|Best Play]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
|}

'''Film and television awards'''
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominated Work
! Result
|-
| [[20th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2013]]
| rowspan=2| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| rowspan=2| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]]
| rowspan=2| ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[21st Screen Actors Guild Awards|2014]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[66th Writers Guild of America Awards|2014]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| rowspan=5| ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[19th Critics' Choice Awards|2014]]
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2014
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association]]
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2014
| Phoenix Film Critics Society
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2014
| Seattle Film Critics Awards
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[24th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2018]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
| ''[[Lady Bird (film)|Lady Bird]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[42nd Golden Raspberry Awards|2022]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
| [[Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]]
| ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[76th Primetime Emmy Awards|2024]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty]]'': "The New World"
| {{nom}}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{ibdb|379129}}
{{cc}}
* {{imdb|504832}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name|504832}}
* {{iobdb name|3074}}
* {{people.com}}
* {{people.com}}
*[http://writetv.okstate.edu ''Write TV'' public television interview with Tracy Letts]

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Tracy Letts
|list =
{{DramaDesk PlayActor 2001–2025}}
{{PulitzerPrize DramaAuthors 2001-2025}}
{{TonyAward PlayLeadActor 2001–2025}}
}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Lifetime|1965||Letts, Tracy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Letts, Tracy}}
[[Category:American screenwriters]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Oklahoma (state) actors]]
[[Category:People from Durant, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Bryan County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners]]
[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Tracy Letts plays| ]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[tr:Tracy Letts]]
[[Category:Writers from Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:American male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Steppenwolf Theatre Company players]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]

Latest revision as of 09:18, 14 December 2024

Tracy Letts
Letts in 2022
Born (1965-07-04) July 4, 1965 (age 59)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupations
  • Playwright
  • screenwriter
  • actor
Years active1988–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
Parent(s)Billie Letts
Dennis Letts
AwardsPulitzer Prize for Drama
Tony Award for Best Play
Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play

Tracy S. Letts (born July 4, 1965) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He started his career at the Steppenwolf Theatre before making his Broadway debut as a playwright for August: Osage County (2007), for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. As an actor, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for the Broadway revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2013).[1]

As a playwright, Letts is known for having written for the Steppenwolf Theatre, Off-Broadway and Broadway theatre. His works include Killer Joe, Bug, Man from Nebraska, August: Osage County, Superior Donuts, Linda Vista, and The Minutes. Letts adapted three of his plays into films, Bug and Killer Joe, both directed by William Friedkin, and August: Osage County, directed by John Wells. His 2009 play Superior Donuts was adapted into a television series of the same name. As a stage actor, Letts has performed in various classic plays with the Steppenwolf Theatre since 1988. He made his acting Broadway debut as George in the revival of Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He continued acting on the Broadway stage in The Realistic Joneses, All My Sons, and The Minutes.

In film and television, he is known for his portrayal of Andrew Lockhart in seasons 3 and 4 of Showtime's Homeland, and pyramid-scheme con-artist Nick on the HBO comedy Divorce. In 2017, Letts starred in three critically acclaimed films: Azazel Jacobs' The Lovers, Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird, and Steven Spielberg's The Post. Lady Bird earned Letts a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2019, he portrayed Henry Ford II in James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari and Mr. Dashwood in Gerwig's Little Women, the two also receiving Best Picture nominations.

Early life

[edit]

Letts was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to author Billie Letts (née Gipson) and college professor and actor Dennis Letts.[2][3] He has two brothers, Shawn, a musician, and Dana. Letts was raised in Durant, Oklahoma, and graduated from Durant High School in the early 1980s. He moved to Dallas, where he waited tables and worked in telemarketing while beginning his acting career. He appeared in Jerry Flemmons' O Dammit!, which was part of a new playwrights' series sponsored by Southern Methodist University.

Letts moved to Chicago at the age of 20, working for the next 11 years at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Famous Door. He is still an active member of Steppenwolf. He was a founding member of Bang Bang Spontaneous Theatre, whose members included Greg Kotis, Michael Shannon, Paul Dillon, and Amy Pietz.[4] In 1991, Letts wrote the play Killer Joe. Two years later, the play premiered at the Next Lab Theater in Evanston, Illinois, followed by the 29th Street Rep in New York City. Since then, Killer Joe has been performed in a number of countries in 12 languages.[5]

His mother, Billie Letts, has said of his work, "I try to be upbeat and funny. Everybody in Tracy's stories gets naked or dead."[5] Letts's plays have depicted people struggling with moral and spiritual questions. He says he was inspired by the plays of Tennessee Williams and the novels of William Faulkner and Jim Thompson. Letts states that he considers sounds to be effective "storytelling tools" for theater.[6]

Career

[edit]

Theatre

[edit]

During the late 1980s through the late 2000s, Letts acted in many of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's productions, starring in Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile (1994).

In 2012, Letts gained attention for his Broadway debut performance in the revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Booth Theatre.[7] He received positive reviews and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.[8]

In 2019, Letts appeared in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons with Annette Bening at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre. The show officially opened on April 22, 2019 and closed on June 23, 2019.[9]

Letts has written over ten plays.[citation needed] His most famous, August: Osage County, premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on June 28, 2007. It had its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre on December 4, 2007; the production transferred to Broadway's Music Box Theatre on April 29, 2008. The Broadway show closed on June 28, 2009, after 648 performances and 18 previews. The show went on to receive seven Tony Award nominations, winning six, including Best Play.[10] The play won Letts the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2008. Letts has also been a finalist for the Pulitzer drama prize for his plays Man from Nebraska and The Minutes; the Pulitzer committee described The Minutes as a "shocking drama set in a seemingly mundane city council meeting that acidly articulates a uniquely American toxicity that feels both historic and contemporary."[11][12] Letts starred in the Broadway production of The Minutes, his first time acting in one of his own plays.[13]

Television

[edit]

Early in his acting career, in the 1990s through the mid 2000s, Letts acted in TV shows including Prison Break, The District, Strong Medicine, Profiler, Judging Amy, The Drew Carey Show, Seinfeld, Early Edition, and Home Improvement.

In 2013–14, Letts joined the cast of Showtime's Homeland as US Senator Andrew Lockhart. He was nominated with the rest of the cast for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble.

In 2016, Letts joined HBO's marital comedy-drama Divorce.[14]

In 2018, Letts was cast in the second season of USA Network's anthology crime drama series The Sinner, opposite Bill Pullman and Carrie Coon.[15] He played Jack McKinney in HBO's 2022 series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Film

[edit]

Letts has starred in Adam McKay's 2015 ensemble piece, The Big Short,[16] 2016's Wiener-Dog, Christine, and Elvis & Nixon; and James Schamus's film adaptation of the Philip Roth novel, Indignation,[17][18] as well as the true-story crime thriller adaptation Imperium.[19]

Letts then appeared in the 2017 films The Lovers, The Post,[20] and Lady Bird.[21][22]

In 2019, Letts portrayed Henry Ford II in James Mangold's sports drama film Ford v Ferrari, and played Mr. Dashwood in Little Women, a film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel of the same name.[23]

Letts has written screenplays for three feature films based on his plays: Bug (directed by William Friedkin), Killer Joe (also directed by Friedkin); and August: Osage County (directed by John Wells). He also wrote the screenplay for the 2021 Netflix feature film The Woman in the Window, starring Amy Adams, based on the eponymous psychological thriller by A.J. Finn.

Personal life

[edit]
Letts and Carrie Coon at the premiere of August: Osage County, Toronto Film Festival 2013

He married actress Carrie Coon in September 2013.[24] They have two children, born in 2018[25][26] and 2021.[27][28] He has been sober since 1993.[29] He was in a relationship with actor Holly Wantuch until her sudden death in 1998.[30] Letts was once engaged to actress Sarah Paulson.[31]

Work as an author

[edit]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Notes Ref.
1993 Killer Joe
1996 Bug
2003 Man from Nebraska
2007 August: Osage County
2008 Superior Donuts
2009 Three Sisters Adaptation [32]
2015 The Stretch [33]
2016 Mary Page Marlowe [34]
2017 Linda Vista [35]
2017 The Minutes [36]

Screenwriter

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2006 Bug Adaptation of his play
2007 Cop Show Short film
2011 Killer Joe Adaptation of his play
2013 August: Osage County Adaptation of his play
2021 The Woman in the Window

Work as an actor

[edit]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Theatre
1988 The Glass Menagerie Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
1991–1995 Bang Bang Spontaneous Theatre Various characters Chicago, No Exit Cafe
1994 Picasso At The Lapin Agile Freddy Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
1999 Three Days of Rain Walker Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2001 Glengarry Glen Ross John Williamson Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2002 The Dazzle Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2002 Miracle on 34th Street Lawyer Chicago Center for Performing Arts
2003 Homebody/Kabul Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2004 The Dresser Norman Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2005 Last of the Boys Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2005 Orson's Shadow Kenneth Tynan Off-Broadway, Barrow Street Theatre
2005 The Pain and the Itch Cash Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2006 The Pillowman Tupolski Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2006 The Well-Appointed Room Stewart Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2007 Betrayal Robert Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2009 American Buffalo Walter "Teach" Cole Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2010 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre
2012 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Broadway, Booth Theatre
2014 The Realistic Joneses Bob Jones Broadway, Lyceum Theatre
2019 All My Sons Joe Keller Broadway, American Airlines Theatre
2020 The Minutes Mayor Superba Broadway, Cort Theatre
2022 The Minutes Mayor Superba Broadway, Studio 54[37]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Paramedics Van Owner
1992 Straight Talk Sean
1998 Chicago Cab Sports Fan
U.S. Marshals Sheriff Poe
1999 Guinevere Zack
2007 Cop Show Michael Cooke Short film
2015 The Big Short Lawrence Fields
2016 Wiener-Dog Danny
Christine Michael Nelson
Elvis & Nixon John Finlator
Indignation Hawes D. Caudwell
Imperium Dallas Wolf
2017 The Lovers Michael
Lady Bird Larry McPherson
The Post Fritz Beebe
2019 Ford v Ferrari Henry Ford II
Little Women Mr. Dashwood
2020 French Exit Franklin "Small Frank" Price (voice)
2021 The Woman in the Window Dr. Landy Uncredited
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Jack Uncredited
2022 Deep Water Don Wilson
2023 Eric Larue Bill Verne
2024 McVeigh Richard Snell [38]
Saturday Night Herb Sargent [39]
TBA Rosebush Pruning Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Home Improvement Henry Episode: "Jill's Surprise Party"
1996–1997 Early Edition Jonathan / Marksman 2 episodes
1997 Seinfeld Counterguy Episode: "The Strike"
1998 The Drew Carey Show Lomax Episode: "Drew and the Conspiracy"
1999 Judging Amy Mr. Kleinman Episode: "Pilot"
2000 Profiler Mr. Adams Episode: "Train Man"
2001 Strong Medicine Ken Episode: "Wednesday Night Fever"
2001 The District Brad Gilroy Episode: "Melt Down"
2006 Prison Break Peter Tucci 2 episodes
2013–2014 Homeland Senator/Director Andrew Lockhart 17 episodes
2016–2019 Divorce Nick 17 episodes
2017 Comrade Detective Vasile (voice) Episode: "No Exit"
2018 The Sinner Jack Novack 7 episodes
2022–2023 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Jack McKinney 9 episodes
2024 Mr. Throwback Mitch Grossman 5 episodes
2024 The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "Desperately Seeking Lisa"
TBA East of Eden Cyrus Trask Upcoming series
TBA The Sensitive Kind Upcoming series

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Theatre awards

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2004 Pulitzer Prize Drama Man from Nebraska Nominated [40]
2008 August: Osage County Won [41]
2008 Tony Awards Best Play Won [42]
2008 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Won [43]
2013 Tony Awards Best Leading Actor in a Play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Won [44]
2013 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Won
2018 Pulitzer Prize Drama The Minutes Nominated [45]
2022 Tony Awards Best Play Nominated

Film and television awards

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Homeland Nominated
2014 Nominated
2014 Writers Guild of America Awards Best Adapted Screenplay August: Osage County Nominated
2014 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2014 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2014 Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2014 Seattle Film Critics Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Lady Bird Nominated
2022 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Screenplay The Woman in the Window Nominated
2024 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: "The New World" Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "The 2008 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Drama". pulitzer.org.
  2. ^ "Interview with Billie Letts". readersread.org.
  3. ^ "Dennis Letts, 73, a Professor Who Became Broadway Actor, Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  4. ^ "Tracy Letts's Productions at Steppenwolf". Steppenwolf Theatre Company. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  5. ^ a b Carlton Stowers (27 November 2003). "Sweet Revenge". The Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  6. ^ Aifen Wang (2008). "In-your-face Theatre with In Your Face Sound Design". Stage Research. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  7. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2012). "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, with Tracy Letts and Amy Morton, Will Arrive On Broadway in September". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  8. ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (2013-06-06). "'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' at the Tonys". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  9. ^ "All My Sons". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  10. ^ "Tony Winners: 'In the Heights,' 'August: Osage County'". www.vulture.com. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  11. ^ "Finalists Tracy Letts" pulitzer.org, retrieved April 16, 2018
  12. ^ "2018 Pulitzer Prize Winners: Full List". The New York Times. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  13. ^ McKinley, Jesse (26 February 2020). "Tracy Letts Can't Fight With His Playwright". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  14. ^ Otterson, Joe (2018-11-02). "'Divorce' Renewed for Season 3 at HBO With New Showrunner, Smaller Episode Count". Variety. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  15. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (2018-05-18). "'The Sinner' Season 2 Reveals First-Look Photos and Who's Joining Carrie Coon in the Mystery Crime Series". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  16. ^ "The Big Short Gets 5 Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture". oscar.go.com. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  17. ^ Debruge, Peter (2016-01-25). "Sundance Film Review: 'Indignation'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  18. ^ "Indignation (2016)", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 2019-03-17
  19. ^ "Imperium (2016)", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 2019-03-17
  20. ^ "Fritz Beebe, portrayed by Tracy Letts - 'The Post': 16 of the Film's Stars and Their Real-Life Inspirations". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  21. ^ "Lady Bird (2017)", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 2019-03-17
  22. ^ Surrey, Miles (2017-12-13). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'Lady Bird' Cleans Up, 'Phantom Thread' Flops". The Ringer. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  23. ^ "Oscar Nominations 2020: The Complete List". Variety. 2020-01-13. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  24. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (August 18, 2017). "Why Tony Nominee Carrie Coon and Pulitzer Prize Winner Tracy Letts Got Married in a Hospital". Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "Carrie Coon and Husband Tracy Letts Expecting Their First Child". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  26. ^ "It's a Boy! The Post Stars Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts Welcome Son Haskell". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  27. ^ Hogan, Michael (2021-08-15). "Actor Carrie Coon: 'My husband says I have ice-water in my veins'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  28. ^ "How Carrie Coon Hid Her Pregnancy on 'The Gilded Age' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  29. ^ "The Interview Show | Tracy Letts". 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved Oct 17, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  30. ^ Weber, Bruce (2004-04-14). "For an Okie Playwright and Actor, A Life With Drama of Its Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  31. ^ Schulman, Michael (March 2, 2016). "Sarah Paulson Opens Up About Acting, Marcia Clark and Dating Older Women". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2018. Closed access icon
  32. ^ "Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Tracy Letts". Artists Repertory Theatre. Retrieved October 26, 2009. This adaptation of the Russian masterpiece was commissioned by Artists Rep as part three of its four-part Chekhov project. Letts offers a fresh, new look at the decay of the privileged class and the search for meaning in the modern world, through the eyes of three dissatisfied sisters who desperately long for their treasured past.
  33. ^ ""TEN" earns its rating at The Gift Theatre - Chicago Sun-Times".
  34. ^ "Carrie Coon Among Cast Of 19 For Steppenwolf's World Premiere Of Tracy Letts Play". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  35. ^ "Linda Vista | Steppenwolf Theatre". www.steppenwolf.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  36. ^ "The Minutes | Steppenwolf Theatre". www.steppenwolf.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  37. ^ "Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Finalist 'The Minutes' Sets Post-COVID 2022 Broadway Reopening, Plans Venue Switch". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  38. ^ Wise, Damon (2024-06-08). "'McVeigh' Review: Alfie Allen Impresses In This Chilling Account Of The Radicalization Of The Oklahoma Bomber – Tribeca Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  39. ^ Debruge, Peter (2024-09-01). "'Saturday Night' Review: Jason Reitman Finds the Right Ensemble to Capture the Lunacy From Which 'SNL' Was Born". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  40. ^ "Man from Nebraska, by Tracy Letts". pulitzer.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  41. ^ "August: Osage County, by Tracy Letts". pulitzer.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  42. ^ "August: Osage County". americantheatrewing.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  43. ^ "August: Osage County". marintheatre.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  44. ^ "Steppenwolf's Tracy Letts Wins Best Actor in a Play Tony Award". nbcchicago.org. 10 June 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  45. ^ "Finalist: The Minutes, by Tracy Letts". pulitzer.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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