Writers & Books

A college drop-out, Sam Shepard became involved in fringe theatre and won plaudits for his high-octane plays. Rock 'n' roll, drugs and the explosive tensions of life on the American edge are his themes and he has been hailed as the cowboy laureate, while as a Hollywood actor he has been compared to Gary Cooper.

The Pulitzer prize winning writer and star of stage and screen, known for performances in The Right Stuff and Bloodline, died in his home in Kentucky

Mr. Shepard comments on his play, soon to have its third major production in New York; his upbringing; and the limitations he finds in his own oeuvre.

Mr. Shepard, one of the most important and influential early writers in the Off Broadway movement, specialized in capturing the darker sides of American family life.