David Mamet

David Mamet, born November 30, 1947, is an accomplished American playwright, film director, and author. He gained critical acclaim for his 1970s off-Broadway plays such as The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. Later, his plays Glengarry Glen Ross (1984) and Speed-the-Plow (1988) earned him a Pulitzer Prize and Tony nominations. From scriptwriter to director, Mamet has excelled in the film industry; notable works include House of Games (1987), The Spanish Prisoner (1997), and Heist (2001). Besides films, Mamet created and produced the CBS series The Unit (2006–2009). Expanding on his creative influence, Mamet also authored several books, touching on filmmaking, culture, politics, and his life experiences in Hollywood. As an education advocate, he often attributes his foundational learning to the Chicago Public Library. Throughout his career, he was recognized by the American Theater Hall of Fame and received the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award for Grand Master of American Theater.