David Mamet

Writing

David Mamet

Born
(age 78)
Birthplace
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Credits
68 titles

Biography

David Alan Mamet (/ˈmæmɪt/; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker.

He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays Glengarry Glen Ross(1984) and Speed-the-Plow (1988). He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays: The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. His plays, Race and The Penitent, respectively, opened on Broadway in 2009 and premiered off-Broadway in 2017.

Feature films that Mamet both wrote and directed include House of Games (1987), Homicide (1991), The Spanish Prisoner (1997), and his biggest commercial success, Heist (2001). His screenwriting credits include The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), The Verdict (1982), The Untouchables (1987), Hoffa (1992), Wag the Dog (1997), and Hannibal (2001). Mamet himself wrote the screenplay for the 1992 adaptation of Glengarry Glen Ross and wrote and directed the 1994 adaptation of his play Oleanna (1992). He created and produced the CBS series The Unit (2006–2009).

Mamet's books include: On Directing Film (1991), a commentary and dialogue about film-making; The Old Religion (1997), a novel about the lynching of Leo Frank; Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (2004), a Torah commentary with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner; The Wicked Son (2006), a study of Jewish self-hatred and antisemitism; Bambi vs. Godzilla, a commentary on the movie business; The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture (2011), a commentary on cultural and political issues; Three War Stories (2013), a trio of novellas about the physical and psychological effects of war; and Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood (2023), an autobiographical account of his experiences in Hollywood.

Description above from the Wikipedia article David Mamet, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 15

YearTitleRole
2025 Marty Supreme Film Director Glenn Nordmann
2023 Beau Is Afraid Film Rabbi
2012 Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay Film Self
2007 David Mamet on House of Games Film Himself
2005 David Mamet on 'House of Games' Film Himself
2003 Real Time with Bill Maher TV Self (3 ep)
2003 Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film Film Self - Director ("Catastrophe")
1996 Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay Film
1995 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist TV David (voice) (1 ep)
1992 The Water Engine Film Brown Haired Man
1991 The Yiddish Cinema Film Narrator
1990 Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret Film Self
1989 The Simpsons TV David Mamet (voice) (1 ep)
1987 Black Widow Film Herb
1978 The South Bank Show TV (2 ep)

Crew credits 55

YearTitleJob
TBA The Prince Film Writer, Executive Producer
TBA Assassination Film Screenplay
TBA House of Games Film Original Film Writer
TBA Speed the Plow Film Director, Theatre Play, Screenplay
TBA Russian Poland Film Director, Writer
2025 Henry Johnson Film Writer, Director
2023 The Penitent: A Rational Man Film Theatre Play, Script, Novel, Idea, Writer, Screenplay
2022 Just a Scene Film Original Story
2014 About Last Night Film Theatre Play
2013 Phil Spector Film Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer
2011 Glengarry Glen Ross Film Writer
2010 Two Painters Film Director, Writer
2010 The Marquee Film Director, Writer
2010 Our Valley Film Director, Writer
2010 Inside the Actor's Workshop Film Writer, Director
2010 Lost Masterpieces of Pornography Film Director, Writer
2008 Redbelt Film Director, Writer
2006 Edmond Film Writer, Theatre Play
2006 The Unit TV Writer, Director, Producer, Creator (11 ep)
2004 Spartan Film Director, Screenplay
2002 The Shield TV Director (1 ep)
2001 Heist Film Director, Writer
2001 Catastrophe Film Director
2001 Hannibal Film Screenplay
2000 State and Main Film Director, Screenplay
2000 Lakeboat Film Theatre Play, Writer
1999 The Winslow Boy Film Director, Writer
1999 Lansky Film Writer
1998 Ronin Film Screenplay
1997 Wag the Dog Film Screenplay
1997 The Spanish Prisoner Film Writer, Director
1997 The Edge Film Screenplay
1996 Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants Film Director
1996 American Buffalo Film Screenplay, Theatre Play
1995 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist TV Additional Writing (1 ep)
1994 Oleanna Film Director, Screenplay, Theatre Play, Lyricist
1994 Vanya on 42nd Street Film Screenplay
1994 Texan Film Writer
1993 A Life in the Theatre Film Theatre Play, Teleplay, Executive Producer
1992 Hoffa Film Screenplay, Associate Producer
1992 Glengarry Glen Ross Film Theatre Play, Screenplay
1992 The Water Engine Film Theatre Play, Writer
1991 Uncle Vanya Film Writer
1991 Homicide Film Director, Writer
1989 We're No Angels Film Writer
1989 The Shawl Film Writer
1988 Things Change Film Director, Writer
1988 Lip Service Film Executive Producer
1988 The Play on One TV Writer (1 ep)
1987 House of Games Film Director, Screenplay, Story
1987 The Untouchables Film Writer
1986 About Last Night... Film Theatre Play
1982 The Verdict Film Screenplay
1981 The Postman Always Rings Twice Film Screenplay
1981 Hill Street Blues TV Writer (1 ep)
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