Born in The Bronx, NY; educated at NYU. He wrote material for TV and stage comedians before scoring his first success as a playwright with Come Blow Your Horn in 1961. He has since written a succession of other hit Broadway plays, mostly comedies, becoming the most financially successful playwright in the history of the American theater. Several of his plays were adapted to the screen by himself or by others. He has also written a number of original screenplays and has acted as co-producer on many of the translations of his plays to the screen. Other notable screenwriting credits include SWEET CHARITY (1969, play), THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS (1970), PLAZA SUITE (1971, also play), STAR SPANGLED GIRL (1971, play), THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (1972, play), THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE (1974, also play), MURDER BY DEATH (1976), THE CHEAP DETECTIVE (1978), CHAPTER TWO (1979, also play), SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES (1980), ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (1981, play The Gingerbread Lady), I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES (1982, also play), MAX DUGAN RETURNS (1983), THE LONELY GUY (1984, adaptation), THE SLUGGER'S WIFE (1985), BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (1986, play), BILOXI BLUES (1988, also play), BROADWAY BOUND (1992 TV, play, written by), LOST IN YONKERS (1993, play & screenplay). He has also written extensively for television, mostly adapting his plays or earlier screenplays to the small screen. In 1991, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the play Lost in Yonkers. He has a Broadway theatre named after him. He was married to his first wife, the former Joan Bairn, from 1953 until her death in 1973. They had two daughters, Much of his work in the mid-1970s was his effort to come to terms with her death from cancer. His second wife (1973-1983) was actress Marsh Mason. He married actress Diane Lander, who had a daughter from a previous marriage, in 1987. They divorced in 1988, but were remarried in 1990. They separated in 1998. He has been married to actress Elaine Joyce since 1999.  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1968: THE ODD COUPLE  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay adapted from other material) 1975: THE SUNSHINE BOYS  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1977: THE GOODBYE GIRL  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1978: CALIFORNIA SUITE 4 nominations