Horton Foote: Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, dies aged 92

The New York Times has reported that pulitzer Prize winning playwright Horton Foote died at his Hartfoed home on 4 Mar 2009, aged 92 ears old.

Foote's plays chronicled American life through the fictional small town of Harrison, TX , which is based on the town of Wharton, TX, where the playwright was born in 1916. Commenting on his plays he once said "I've written plays not set in Texas, but I've never had them done. I didn't like them. I didn't feel they were my metier so to speak."

He was last represented on Broadway by 'Dividing The Estate' (2008). His other Broadway credits include 'The Young Man from Atlanta' (1997), 'The Traveling Lady' (1954), 'The Trip to Bountiful' (1953), 'The Chase' (1952), 'Six O'Clock Theatre' (1948) and 'Only the Heart.' He also acted on the Broadway stage when he appeared in 'The Coggerers' (1939).

Foote won the Pulitzer Prize for his play 'The Young Man from Atlanta' which was also nominated for a Tony Award. His series of nine plays, known as "The Orphans' Home Cycle," will have its world premiere at Hartford Stage from 27 Aug - 17 Oct 2008, before playing Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre from 29 Oct 2008 - 11 Apr 2010.

Foote won two Academy Awards, the first for his adaptation of Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird,'the second for his screenplay 'Tender Mercies.' He was also nominated for an Academy Award for his screen adaptation of his play 'The Trip to Bountiful.'

His daughter Hallie Foote, who often acts in her father's plays, told the New York Times that her father passed away after a short illness at his home in Hartford, where he had been working on adapting his nine-play "The Orphans' Home Cycle," in preparation for its up coming world premiere at Hartford Stage.

Foote is survived by his children, Horton Jr., Walter, Hallie, and Daisy.