Kaufman, George S. (George Simon Kaufman) (kôf`mən), 1889–1961, American dramatist and journalist, b. Pittsburgh. As a drama critic for various New York newspapers he was influential in raising the standards of criticism in the theater. He collaborated on more than 40 plays, many of them tremendously successful, which varied in mood from the rowdy farces of his early days to his later more sophisticated comedies. His collaboration with Marc Connelly Connelly, Marc (Marcus Cook Connelly) (kŏn`əlē), 1890–1981, American dramatist, b. McKeesport, Pa.
..... Click the link for more information. produced such plays as Merton of the Movies (1922) and Beggar on Horseback (1924) and was followed by collaborations with Ring Lardner Lardner, Ring (Ringgold Wilmer Lardner), 1885–1933, American humorist and short-story writer, b. Niles, Mich. He was a sports reporter in Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston from 1907 to 1919.
..... Click the link for more information. —June Moon (1929)—and Edna Ferber Ferber, Edna, 1887–1968, American author, b. Kalamazoo, Mich. Her novels portray the lives of a wide variety of Americans in a vigorous, colorful, and panoramic fashion.
..... Click the link for more information. —The Royal Family (1927), Dinner at Eight (1932), and Stage Door (1936). In 1932, Kaufman won the Pulitzer Prize for the musical Of Thee I Sing (1931), written with Morrie Ryskind, to a score by George Gershwin Ira Gershwin, 1896–1983, b. Brooklyn, N.Y., wrote beautifully crafted lyrics for many Gershwin songs. The "rhymed conversation" that he wrote to his brother's music includes the words for "But Not for Me," "Fascinating Rhythm," "I've Got a Crush on You," and "'S Wonderful.
..... Click the link for more information. . Some of his most famous plays, containing some of his best wisecracking wit, were done in collaboration with Moss Hart Hart, Moss, 1904–61, American dramatist, b. New York City, studied at Columbia. His first important play, Once in a Lifetime (1930), marked the beginning of a long collaboration with George S. Kaufman .
..... Click the link for more information. , notably Once in a Lifetime (1930), Merrily We Roll Along (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1936; Pulitzer Prize), and The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939). Among his later works are The Late George Apley (with J. P. Marquand, 1944) and The Solid Gold Cadillac (with Howard Teichmann, 1954). Kaufman directed several successful plays including The Front Page (1928), My Sister Eileen (1940), and Guys and Dolls (1950).

Bibliography

See Kaufman & Co.: Broadway Comedies (2004); biographies by S. Meredith (1974) and R. G. Pollack (1988).

Kaufman, George S.

(born Nov. 16, 1889, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S—died June 2, 1961, New York, N.Y.) U.S. playwright and director. He was drama critic for The New York Times (1917–30). Known for his caustic wit and talent for brilliant satire, he wrote many plays in collaboration with other writers, including Marc Connelly, Morrie Ryskind (1895–1985), and Edna Ferber. His most memorable collaboration was with Moss Hart, with whom he wrote Once in a Lifetime (1930), You Can't Take It with You (1936, Pulitzer Prize), and The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939).

Kaufman, George S. (Simon) (1889–1961) playwright, director; born in Pittsburgh, Pa. After brief periods studying law and as a salesman, he began to contribute humorous material to newspapers; by 1915 he was writing for the theater section of the New York Tribune, moving to the New York Times (1917–30). His first successful play, Dulcy (1921), was in collaboration with Marc Connelly, and during the next 35 years he enjoyed almost unparalleled success, writing a string of sophisticated satires of contemporary life for the stage and movies in collaboration with others—Marc Connelly, Edna Ferber, Ring Lardner, Moss Hart, Alexander Woolcott, Robert Sherwood; his only success by himself was The Butter and Egg Man (1925). After 1928 he staged most of his own plays, and although Hollywood constantly beckoned, he was never really comfortable there. With Morris Ryskind he wrote one of the most successful Marx Brothers scripts, A Night at the Opera (1935). He shared two Pulitzers—with Ryskind, for the book to the musical, Of Thee I Sing (1931), and with Moss Hart for the play, You Can't Take It With You (1936).