Zoe Akins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zoe Akins
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| Born | Zoe Byrd Akins October 30, 1886 Humansville, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1958 (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Playwright, screenwriter, novelist, poet |
| Years active | 1925-1958 |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1935) |
| Spouse | Hugo Rumbold (1932) (his death) |
Zoe Akins was an American writer. She wrote plays, poems, and books. In 1935, she won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize for her play, The Old Maid.
Contents
Zoe Akins' Early Life and Education
Zoe Byrd Akins was born in Humansville, Missouri, in 1886. She was one of three children. Her father was involved in politics in Missouri.
When Zoe was a teenager, her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. She went to school at Monticello Seminary and Hosmer Hall. At Hosmer Hall, she was classmates with the famous poet Sara Teasdale. They both finished school in 1903.
Zoe wrote her first play while at Monticello Seminary. It was a funny version of a Greek tragedy. After school, she started writing plays, poems, and articles for magazines. She also sometimes acted in plays in St. Louis.
Zoe Akins' Career and Success
Zoe Akins wrote her first big play, Papa, in 1914. It was a comedy. Even though it didn't do well, important writers liked it. She kept writing and soon had two more plays. These were The Magical City and Déclassée.
Déclassée was a huge hit. It starred a famous actress named Ethel Barrymore. This play made Zoe Akins very well-known.
Many of Zoe's early plays were made into movies. These were mostly silent films. This was when movies were changing to include sound. Some famous actors like Walter Pidgeon and a young Clark Gable were in these films.
In 1930, Zoe had another big success. Her play was called The Greeks Had a Word for It. It was a comedy about three models looking for rich husbands.
In the early 1930s, Zoe started writing more for movies. She wrote several screenplays. She also sold the rights to her plays. The Greeks Had a Word for It was made into a movie three times! These movies were The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932), Three Blind Mice (1938), and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953).
Two important movies she worked on were Sarah and Son (1930) and Morning Glory (1933). Actresses in these films won awards. Ruth Chatterton was nominated for an Academy Award for Sarah and Son. Katharine Hepburn won an Academy Award for Morning Glory.
Zoe Akins did not continue writing screenplays for a long time. In 1932, she married Hugo Rumbold. After writing several Hollywood films, she went back to writing plays. She also spent time with her family.
In 1935, Zoe won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. She won it for her play The Old Maid. This play was based on a story by Edith Wharton. It was a drama set in New York City. The story took place between 1839 and 1854. This play was also made into a movie in 1939. It starred the famous actress Bette Davis.
In 1936, Zoe helped write the movie script for Camille. This movie was based on a play and book by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The film starred Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, and Lionel Barrymore. Greta Garbo was nominated for an Oscar for her role.
Later Life and Legacy
Zoe Akins passed away in 1958. She died in Los Angeles, just before her 72nd birthday. She is buried in the San Gabriel District Cemetery.
Her writings and other materials are kept at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.
Selected Filmography
- Déclassée (1925)
- Her Private Life (1929)
- Sarah and Son (1930)
- Anybody's Woman (1930)
- The Right to Love (1930)
- Working Girls (1931)
- The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)
- Christopher Strong (1933)
- Outcast Lady (1934)
- Accused (1936)
- Lady of Secrets (1936)
- Camille (1936)
- The Old Maid (1939)
- Zaza (1939)
