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Patrick DennisAmerican writer
Date of Birth: 18.05.1921
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life
- Wartime Service
- Early Writing Career
- 'Auntie Mame' and Literary Triumph
- Broadway Success and Film Adaptation
- Later Career and Legacy
- Later Years
- Death
Early Life
Edward Everett Tanner III, known by his pen name Patrick Dennis, was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1921. His father named him after renowned Irish boxer Pat Sweeney. Dennis preferred the name Patrick and later shortened it to Patrick Dennis. He attended high school in Evanston, where his interests included theater and drama.
Wartime Service
During World War II, the 20-year-old Dennis served as an ambulance driver with the American Field Service in North Africa and the Middle East.
Early Writing Career
After the war, Dennis married Louise Stickney in 1948 and had two children. His first two books, published in 1953 and 1954, failed to achieve significant success.
'Auntie Mame' and Literary Triumph
His third book, 'Auntie Mame,' released in 1955, became a runaway hit. It topped the bestseller list for 112 weeks, sold over two million copies, and was translated into multiple languages. At its peak, over 1,000 copies were sold daily. Two of his subsequent works, 'The Loving Couple' and 'Guestward, Ho!,' also became bestsellers, making Dennis the only author with three books simultaneously on the bestseller list. 'Auntie Mame' featured the eccentric protagonist Mame Dennis, whose life was thrown into chaos after she became the guardian of her orphaned nephew, Patrick.
Broadway Success and Film Adaptation
The success of 'Auntie Mame' led to a Broadway play starring Rosalind Russell in 1956. The play was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Tony Award in 1957. It also won a Theatre World Award that year. 'Auntie Mame' was later adapted into several stage productions and a 1958 film, which featured Russell reprising her role.
Later Career and Legacy
Dennis continued to write, with 'Little Me' (1961) being another notable book that became a musical. However, 'Auntie Mame' remained his most significant literary achievement. Dennis's bisexuality was a private struggle that was sometimes reflected in his work.
Later Years
By the 1970s, Dennis's popularity had waned, and he worked as a butler for McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. He used his real name while employed there, so Kroc was unaware that he had employed the acclaimed author of 'Auntie Mame.'
