Ronald Tavel American screenwriter, director and actor Date of Birth: 17.05.1936 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Warhol's Factory
3. Playhouse of the Ridiculous
4. Theological and Dramatic Recognition
5. Cornell University and Beyond
6. Legacy and Death

Early Life and Education

Ronald Tavel was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Brooklyn College and the University of Wyoming. He received his master's degree in 1959 and began working with Andy Warhol in 1960.

Warhol's Factory

Tavel became a key figure in Andy Warhol's Factory, writing screenplays for many of the iconic underground films of the 1960s, including "Chelsea Girls." He collaborated closely with other Factory members such as Freddie Herko, Mary Woronov, Billy Name, Brigid Berlin, and Ondine.

Playhouse of the Ridiculous

In 1969, Tavel won an Obie Award for his musical "Boy On the Straight-Back Chair." He became a long-time collaborator with the New York theater group Playhouse of the Ridiculous, which included John Vaccaro, Harvey Tavel, and Charles Ludlam. Tavel famously formulated the group's manifesto: "We have gone beyond the absurd and are into absolute ridiculousness."

Theological and Dramatic Recognition

In 1975, Tavel received an award from the Yale University Divinity School for his contributions to theological theory and religious drama. He also won an Obie Award for his play "Bigfoot." In 1977, he received another Obie Award for his three-act play "Gazelle Boy."

Cornell University and Beyond

In 1980, Tavel became the first resident playwright at Cornell University, where he was commissioned to write a melodrama. His play "The Understudy," featuring a young Jimmy Smits, was a critical success. In 1986, he became a visiting assistant professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Tavel spent considerable time in Bangkok, Thailand, where he resided for a total of 12 years.

Legacy and Death

Ronald Tavel passed away on March 23, 2009, at the age of 72, from a heart attack while on a flight from Berlin to Bangkok. He left behind a significant legacy as a playwright, screenwriter, and actor who made significant contributions to the underground arts scene of the 1960s and beyond.