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ODETS Clifford

 

Date of birth : July 18, 1906, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Date of death : August 18, 1963, Los Angeles, California (;).

 

Portrait ,,,,,

 
Profession writer.

 

Story

On January 8, 1938 he married Luise Rainer (January 12, 1910, Germany-December 30, 2014, London)

(-;;). They divorced in May 1940.

In 1943 he married Bette Grayson (Janauary 17, 1920, New York-February 22, 1953, New York)(). They had 2 children Nora (1944-2008) and Walt Whitman (born on February 4, 1947). They divorced in 1951.

During the 30's he was considered as the most talented drama author of his era, the one who perfectly expressed its social fights.

He opened the way for other authors who exploited the same vein but who later became more famous than him, as Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams.

His most famous plays are "Awake and Sing" (1935), "Waiting for Lefty" (1935) and "Golden Boy" (1937). 
He also wrote "The Country Girl" (1950) and "Clash by Night" (1941).

In the movie version of "Clash by Night", Marilyn obtained an important supporting role. 

Odets relationships in 1947 with Hollywood were sporadic, but, as many writers, he regularly gave in to the dollars appeal.

 

Marilyn met the Odets work in 1947, when she had some lessons at the Actors Lab, the Group Theater annex in

Los Angeles; Odets had founded the Group Theater in 1931 with Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan 

Marilyn was particularly touched by the way Odets depicted the oppressed, the small solitary people and the poor, placing them in their circle.

As Arthur Miller, Odets belonged to the suspects listed by the House Un-American Activities Commitee and was appealed to testify.
In secret he testified on April 24, 1951 and publicly in May.
He admitted under oath having belonged to the Communist Party but asserted he had left it when he was asked to spread the Party ideas through his theater.

Portrait of Marilyn by Clifford Odets in September 1958

Telegram dated May 28, 1959 sent to Marilyn by Clifford Odets

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