Born in Independence, KS. Several of the plays of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author have been adapted to the screen by others, including COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (1952), PICNIC (1955), BUS STOP (1956), and THE STRIPPER (1963) (from his play A Loss of Roses, 1963). The film BUS RILEY'S BACK IN TOWN (1965) was based on his story. He wrote only twice directly for the screen, winning an Academy Award for his original screenplay of SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS (1961), a film on which he was also the associate producer. His other original screenplay was ALL FALL DOWN (1962). Convinced he could no longer write, Inge fell into a paralyzing depression, which resulted in his suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in Los Angeles in 1973. An annual festival, the William Inge Theatre Festival, is held each year in his hometown of Independence, KS. The Festival honors playwrights and brings national and international theatre artists to this small town each spring. America's finest playwrights have all made the pilgrimmage to the Festival.  Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1961: SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS 1 nomination, 1 Award