David Sedaris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Sedaris
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Sedaris at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2018
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| Born | David Raymond Sedaris December 26, 1956 Johnson City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BA) |
| Genre | Humor, essays |
| Notable awards | Thurber Prize for American Humor American Academy of Arts and Letters |
| Partner | Hugh Hamrick |
| Relatives | Amy Sedaris (sister) |
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David Raymond Sedaris (born December 26, 1956) is an American author, comedian, and radio contributor famous for his funny stories. He first became well-known in 1992 when National Public Radio (NPR) played his essay "Santaland Diaries" on the radio.
In 1994, he released his first book of essays and short stories, called Barrel Fever. Many of his later books, like Naked (1997) and Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), became New York Times Bestsellers. For Me Talk Pretty One Day, he won the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Most of Sedaris's writing is about his own life. He often writes with humor about his family, growing up in a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina, and his Greek background. He also writes about his experiences living in France and England. His sister is the actress Amy Sedaris, and they have written together. In 2019, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
David Sedaris was born in Johnson City, New York. His father, Lou, was an IBM engineer, and his mother was named Sharon. His father's family came from Greece, and David was raised in the Greek Orthodox church.
When David was young, his family moved to a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the second of six children. His siblings are Lisa, Gretchen, Amy, Tiffany, and Paul.
After high school, Sedaris went to Western Carolina University and later Kent State University. He eventually moved to Chicago in 1983 and graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1987.
Writing Career
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How He Was Discovered
While working different jobs, Sedaris was discovered by radio host Ira Glass at a club in Chicago. Sedaris was reading from a diary he had kept for many years. Glass liked his work and asked him to be on his radio show. This was a big break for Sedaris.
His appearance on Glass's show led to his first time on National Public Radio on December 23, 1992. He read an essay called "Santaland Diaries" about his funny experiences working as an elf at a Macy's department store during Christmas. The essay was a huge hit with listeners and made him famous. After that, he started a monthly segment on NPR based on his diary.
Bestselling Books
In 1994, Sedaris published Barrel Fever, his first collection of stories and essays. He also became a regular writer for the magazines Esquire and The New Yorker.
Many of his books have been very successful. His collections Naked (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004), and When You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008) all became New York Times Best Sellers.
Me Talk Pretty One Day was mostly written while he lived in France. It received great reviews and won the 2001 Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Later Work and TV Appearances
Sedaris has continued to write popular books, including:
- Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (2010)
- Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls (2013)
- Theft By Finding (2017), a collection of his diary entries
- Calypso (2018)
- The Best of Me (2020), a collection of his best stories
- Happy Go Lucky (2022), which reflects on his relationship with his father.
He has also appeared on television. He and his sister Amy were guest judges on RuPaul's Drag Race. He also had a voice role on the animated show BoJack Horseman as the mother of a character voiced by his sister.
Are His Stories True?
Some people have wondered if the stories Sedaris tells in his books are completely true. In 2007, an article in the magazine The New Republic questioned whether his work should be called nonfiction.
Many readers understand that Sedaris often exaggerates or changes details in his stories to make them funnier. This is a common style for humor writers. Magazines that publish his work, like The New Yorker, check the facts in his stories to make sure the main events are true.
Working with His Sister
David has written several plays with his sister, Amy Sedaris. They call their writing partnership "The Talent Family." Some of their plays include Stitches (1994) and The Book of Liz (2001).
Personal Life
Sedaris lives with his longtime partner, Hugh Hamrick, who is a painter and set designer. They met in 1991. They have lived in France and now split their time between England and the United States. Sedaris often writes about Hamrick in his stories.
In England, Sedaris is known for spending a lot of his free time picking up trash from the side of the roads near his home. He is so dedicated to this hobby that a local waste collection truck has been named after him.
See also
In Spanish: David Sedaris para niños
