CLIFFORD ODETS

Clifford Odets was a writer, actor, and director from the 1930s to the 1960s. He was also a founding member of the Group Theatre, that developed and utilized the Method Acting technique. When he wrote the play "Waiting For Lefty" in 1935, he achieved stardom, and he had several more major hits, including "Golden Boy", which he wrote for Method actor John Garfield (but the movie was made with William Holden). When he first went to Hollywood, he met Luise Rainer, and they quickly married, but they soon separated. He had a long affair with Frances Farmer, which likely contributed to her mental instability. One of his best movie screenplays was "Sweet Smell of Success". Some of his other works include: The General Died at Dawn, Clash by Night, None But the Lonely Heart, and The Story on Page One. He was the inspiration for the title character in the Coen Brothers' 1991 movie "Barton Fink". Odets passed away in 1963 at the age of 57.