Dennis Letts
Encyclopedia
Dennis Letts was an American
college professor
and actor
. Letts made his Broadway theater debut in December 2007 in the production of August: Osage County
, which was written by his son, playwright
Tracy Letts
.
on September 5, 1934. He grew up with his parents, Haskell and Hazel Letts, in Wagoner, Oklahoma
. Letts graduated from Wagoner High School
in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Air Force
after graduation, where he served until 1956.
Letts received his bachelor's degree
from Northeastern State University
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
, thanks to the G.I. Bill. He went on to earn his master's degree
from the University of Tulsa
and his doctorate
from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also earned a Fulbright Scholarship
.
Letts married his wife, novelist Billie Gipson
, in 1958.
and English
professor
. He taught for more than thirty years, mostly as a faculty member at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
in Durant, Oklahoma
.
Letts first began acting at the relatively late age of 50 years old. Letts first started performing at university and community theaters while still working as a college professor. He began acting as a full second career after retiring from teaching. Letts appeared in more than 40 film
s and television
shows over the course of his career, including parts in high-profile films such as Cast Away
in 2000.
His acting credits also included his debut in Blood Suckers from Outer Space a sci fi comedy written and directed by Glen Coburn, Where the Heart Is
, a film based on a novel written by his wife, Billie Letts
. Letts also served as an editor for his wife's novels, which have won various literary awards and have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list
.
, which was written by his son, Tracy Letts
. His character is described as an "Oklahoma
patriarch
" whose mysterious disappearance reunites his dysfunctional family
. August: Osage County first opened at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company
in the summer of 2007. The show, as well as Letts's performance, was a critical success.
Letts was diagnosed with lung cancer
in September 2007. Despite his diagnosis, Letts chose to remain with the August: Osage County production as the show moved to New York City
. The show, with Letts as a full cast member, debuted on Broadway in December 2007. It earned some of the best critical reviews of that particular season.
Letts continued performing eight shows a week of August: Osage County in New York City until February 2008. He kept up his schedule despite his illness and its treatment. Letts died in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, on February 22, 2008, at the age of 73. A memorial service was held in Wagoner, Oklahoma
. He was survived by his wife, Billie, and sons, Tracy, Dana and Shawn.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Letts made his Broadway theater debut in December 2007 in the production of August: Osage County
August: Osage County
August: Osage County is a darkly comedic play by Tracy Letts. It was the recipient of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on 28 June 2007, and closed on 26 August 2007. Its Broadway debut was at the Imperial Theater on 4 December 2007 and...
, which was written by his son, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Tracy Letts
Tracy Letts
Tracy Letts is an American playwright and actor who received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play August: Osage County.-Biography:...
.
Early life
Dennis Letts was born in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
on September 5, 1934. He grew up with his parents, Haskell and Hazel Letts, in Wagoner, Oklahoma
Wagoner, Oklahoma
Wagoner is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wagoner County.-Geography:Wagoner is located at ....
. Letts graduated from Wagoner High School
Wagoner High School
Wagoner High School is a high school in Wagoner, Oklahoma.- External Links :...
in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
after graduation, where he served until 1956.
Letts received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma...
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
, thanks to the G.I. Bill. He went on to earn his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
and his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also earned a Fulbright Scholarship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
.
Letts married his wife, novelist Billie Gipson
Billie Letts
Billie Letts is an American novelist and educator. She was a professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.-Family:She was married to professor-turned-actor Dennis Letts until his death in 2008, and is the mother of playwright/actor Tracy Letts, jazz musician/composer Shawn Letts, and Dana...
, in 1958.
Career
Letts spent much of his professional career as a writingWriting
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
and English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. He taught for more than thirty years, mostly as a faculty member at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
in Durant, Oklahoma
Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,877 at the 2010 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 42,416 in 2010...
.
Letts first began acting at the relatively late age of 50 years old. Letts first started performing at university and community theaters while still working as a college professor. He began acting as a full second career after retiring from teaching. Letts appeared in more than 40 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows over the course of his career, including parts in high-profile films such as Cast Away
Cast Away
Cast Away is a 2000 drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx employee stranded on an uninhabited island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. The film depicts his successful attempts to survive on the island using remnants of his plane's cargo, as well as his...
in 2000.
His acting credits also included his debut in Blood Suckers from Outer Space a sci fi comedy written and directed by Glen Coburn, Where the Heart Is
Where the Heart Is (2000 film)
Where the Heart Is is a 2000 drama/romance film directed by Matt Williams and produced by Susan Cartsonis, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher and Matt Williams. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and Waco, Texas at Baylor University. The movie stars Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd...
, a film based on a novel written by his wife, Billie Letts
Billie Letts
Billie Letts is an American novelist and educator. She was a professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.-Family:She was married to professor-turned-actor Dennis Letts until his death in 2008, and is the mother of playwright/actor Tracy Letts, jazz musician/composer Shawn Letts, and Dana...
. Letts also served as an editor for his wife's novels, which have won various literary awards and have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
.
August: Osage County
Dennis Letts originated the role of Beverly Weston in the original production of August: Osage CountyAugust: Osage County
August: Osage County is a darkly comedic play by Tracy Letts. It was the recipient of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on 28 June 2007, and closed on 26 August 2007. Its Broadway debut was at the Imperial Theater on 4 December 2007 and...
, which was written by his son, Tracy Letts
Tracy Letts
Tracy Letts is an American playwright and actor who received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play August: Osage County.-Biography:...
. His character is described as an "Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
" whose mysterious disappearance reunites his dysfunctional family
Dysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
. August: Osage County first opened at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a Tony Award-winning Chicago theatre company founded in 1974 by Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry in the basement of a church in Highland Park, Illinois. It has since relocated to Chicago's Halsted Street, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Its name comes from...
in the summer of 2007. The show, as well as Letts's performance, was a critical success.
Letts was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in September 2007. Despite his diagnosis, Letts chose to remain with the August: Osage County production as the show moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The show, with Letts as a full cast member, debuted on Broadway in December 2007. It earned some of the best critical reviews of that particular season.
Letts continued performing eight shows a week of August: Osage County in New York City until February 2008. He kept up his schedule despite his illness and its treatment. Letts died in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, on February 22, 2008, at the age of 73. A memorial service was held in Wagoner, Oklahoma
Wagoner, Oklahoma
Wagoner is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wagoner County.-Geography:Wagoner is located at ....
. He was survived by his wife, Billie, and sons, Tracy, Dana and Shawn.