Frank D. Gilroy facts for kids

Frank Daniel Gilroy (born October 13, 1925 – died September 12, 2015) was a talented American writer, director, and producer. He wrote plays and movies. He won two big awards in 1965 for his play The Subject Was Roses: the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. These awards are very important in the world of theater.

Frank Gilroy's Early Life

Frank Gilroy was born in New York City in 1925. His dad, Frank B. Gilroy, worked with coffee. His mom, Bettina, had Italian and German family. Frank grew up in the Bronx, a part of New York City. He went to DeWitt Clinton High School.

After high school, Frank joined the U.S. Army. He served for two and a half years. About 18 months of that time was spent in Europe during World War II.

After the war, Frank went to Dartmouth College. He was very involved there. He was the editor of the school newspaper, The Dartmouth. He also wrote for the college humor magazine, Jack-o-Lantern. He graduated with high honors in 1950. Later, in 1966, Dartmouth gave him an special honorary degree. He also got a special grant to study at the Yale School of Drama.

Frank Gilroy's Writing Career

Frank Gilroy started his writing career during the "Golden Age of Television." This was a time in the 1950s when TV shows became very popular. He wrote for many famous shows like Playhouse 90 and Westinghouse Studio One.

First Plays and Big Success

Frank's first play for the theater was Who'll Save the Plowboy?. It opened in 1962 and won the Obie Award. This award celebrates great off-Broadway plays. The play is about a man named Albert Cobb. He meets the person who saved his life during World War II.

His most famous play, The Subject Was Roses, opened on Broadway in 1964. It ran for almost two years! The play is about a family: a father, a mother, and their son. They all love each other, but they also struggle to get along. This play earned him the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

Another play, That Summer, That Fall, came out in 1967. It was a modern version of an old Greek myth. It told the story of Hippolytus and Phaedra in a New York City neighborhood.

Writing for the Big Screen

Frank Gilroy also wrote many screenplays for movies. A screenplay is the script for a film. Some of his famous screenplays include Desperate Characters, which starred Shirley MacLaine. He also wrote The Gallant Hours, starring James Cagney.

He even turned some of his own plays into movies. For example, he adapted The Subject Was Roses for the big screen. It starred Patricia Neal and Martin Sheen. He also adapted The Only Game in Town, which featured famous actors Elizabeth Taylor and Warren Beatty.

Frank also wrote a novel called From Noon Till Three. He then turned this book into a movie. He not only wrote the movie script but also directed the film. It starred Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland.

TV Westerns and Other Works

In the late 1950s, Frank Gilroy wrote for several popular TV western shows. These included Have Gun – Will Travel, The Rifleman, and Wanted: Dead or Alive. He also created the TV series Burke's Law.

Later, he wrote a TV movie called Nero Wolfe in 1977. It was based on a detective novel.

Frank Gilroy also wrote two books about his experiences in Hollywood. These books, I Wake Up Screening and Writing for Love and/or Money, share stories about making movies. They give a peek into the world of film production and how things worked in Hollywood during the 1950s and 60s.

Supporting Writers

Frank Gilroy cared a lot about writers' rights. He was a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. This group helps support playwrights. In 1968, he was chosen as the president of the Guild. He led the organization until 1971.

Frank Gilroy's Family Life

Frank Gilroy was married to Ruth Dorothy Gaydos, who was a sculptor and writer. They had three sons together. All of their sons followed in their father's footsteps and work in the film industry. Tony Gilroy and Dan Gilroy are screenwriters and directors. John Gilroy is a film editor.

Frank Gilroy passed away on September 12, 2015, in Monroe, New York.

Awards and Recognition

Frank Gilroy received many awards for his amazing work:

• 1962: Obie Award for Who'll Save the Plowboy?
• 1964: New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for The Subject Was Roses
• 1964: Outer Critics Circle Award for The Subject Was Roses
• 1965: Tony Award for The Subject Was Roses
• 1965: Pulitzer Prize for The Subject Was Roses
• 1971: Silver Bear at the 21st Berlin International Film Festival for Desperate Characters