Mel Gussow

Mel Gussow (December 19, 1933 – April 29, 2005) was an influential American theatre critic who wrote for The New York Times for thirty-five years. His writing helped further the careers of actors, such as Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, and Sigourney Weaver, playwrights, including Sam Shepard, David Mamet, John Guare, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and Tom Stoppard, theatre wunderkind such as Robert Wilson, Charles Ludlam, Richard Foreman, and Julie Taymor, and enhanced the influence of Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatres.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 1933 - April 29 - 2005 - The New York Times - Kevin Kline - Meryl Streep - Sigourney Weaver - Sam Shepard - David Mamet - John Guare - Harold Pinter - Edward Albee - Tom Stoppard - Robert Wilson - Charles Ludlam - Richard Foreman - Julie Taymor

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He was born in New York, grew up on Long Island, and attended Middlebury College, graduating in 1955 with a degree in American literature. He earned a master's degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in 1956.

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Middlebury College - 1955 - Columbia Graduate School of Journalism - 1956

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After two years in the army, he was hired by Newsweek, where he became a movie and theatre critic. His first review of a Broadway play was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1962. It was a rave, and began a life-long relationship with the play's author, Edward Albee, resulting in Gussow's 1999 biography of the playwright, Edward Albee: A Singular Journey.

Related Topics:
Newsweek - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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He wrote reviews for The Times for thirty-five years starting in 1969. His reviews were conceived of as collaborative rather than oppositional. He authored eight books, including a series of four which were "conversations" with playwrights Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Tom Stoppard.

Related Topics:
Arthur Miller - Samuel Beckett

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He brought many new talents to public attention, including Athol Fugard, Mac Wellman, Michael Gambon, Bill Irwin, Spalding Gray, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Related Topics:
Athol Fugard - Mac Wellman - Michael Gambon - Bill Irwin - Spalding Gray - Whoopi Goldberg

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