Mark O'Donnell: Hairspray co-writer dies age 58

Mark O'Donnell, who co-wrote the books for the Broadway musicals 'Hairspray' (Tony Award) and Cry-Baby (Tony nomination) with Thomas Meehan, died in Manhattan on 6 Aug 2012, at age 58.

His agent said O'Donnell collapsed on Monday 6 Aug 2012 in the lobby of his Upper West Side apartment complex.

O'Donnell is best known for writing the book for the 1960s-themed musical "Hairspray," which earned him and co-writer Thomas Meehan the Tony Award in 2003. Working with Meehan and Leslie Dixon, he co-wrote the screenplay for the 2007 film based on the Broadway musical.

His plays included: 'That's It, Folks!,' 'Fables for Friends,' 'The Nice and the Nasty,' 'Strangers on Earth' and 'Vertigo Park.' He was the author of two novels: "Getting Over Homer" and "Let Nothing You Dismay."

O'Donnell was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1976, where he was a member of the Harvard Lampoon. He was the writer and librettist for three Hasty Pudding musicals for the Hasty Pudding Theatricals group - a theatrical student society at Harvard University.

He is survived by his identical twin-brother, Steve O'Donnell.