(March 12th, 1928 — September 16th, 2016)

Edward Franklin Albee III was an American playwright. He won three Pulitzer Prizes and two Tony Awards for his plays.

He was adopted as an infant to the Albee family, and had a strained relationship with his high-society socialite parents. Though not unintelligent, Albee was not a diligent student. He was known to be a frequent absentee, skipping many classes. He was expelled twice — once from his high school, once from Trinity College — and dismissed from the military academy he was sent to.

By eighteen, he had attracted notice for his plays. He had also moved out to live on his own, due to conflicts with his parents. He worked odd jobs while beginning to build his career as a playwright. Despite being openly gay and helping to challenge societal attitudes about the gay community, Albee did not consider himself to be an LGBT advocate.

Albee wrote many plays and went on to win many awards during the length of his career. Despite his own difficulties with schooling, he went on to promote university theatre programs. He also established a fund for writers and artists in residence.

He died in his home in 2016 after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his partner of thirty-four years, Jonathan Thomas.