Eugene O Neill Biography | America's greatest playwright

Eugene O'Neill biography shows that he is one of America's greatest playwrights. His plays are famous around the world. He wrote about deep human emotions and real-life problems. This video explores Eugene O'Neill biography and will help you understand his life and work.

Early Life of Eugene O'Neill.

Eugene O'Neill was born on October 16, 1888. He was born in a hotel on Broadway in New York City. His full name was Eugene Gladstone O'Neill. His father was James O'Neill, a famous actor. His mother was Ella Quinlan O'Neill. Eugene had two brothers, James Jr and Edmund.

Eugene's father was famous for playing the role of the Count of Monte Cristo. This role made him rich, but it also made him unhappy. He felt trapped by this one role. Eugene's mother, Ella, had a difficult life. She became addicted to morphine. This addiction started after she gave birth to Eugene. Her addiction caused many problems in the family.

Education and Early Career.

Eugene O'Neill biography reveals that he went to several schools as a child. He attended boarding schools. Eugene did not enjoy school very much. He often got into trouble and was expelled from several schools.

In 1906, Eugene started attending Princeton University. However, he was only there for one year. He left Princeton because of more trouble. After leaving Princeton, Eugene worked at different jobs. He was a sailor, a gold prospector in Honduras, and even a journalist. Eugene experienced many adventures during this time. These adventures gave him ideas for his future plays.

Illness and Turning Point.

In 1912, Eugene became very sick with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a serious lung disease. He had to stay in a sanatorium, a special hospital for people with long-term illnesses. Eugene was very sad and lonely during this time. But he also began to think deeply about his life and what he wanted to do.

While he was recovering, Eugene started reading many plays. He decided he wanted to become a playwright. This decision changed his life. He began to write plays about the things he had experienced and the people he had met.

First Success.

Eugene's first play was called "Bound East for Cardiff". It was performed in 1916. The play was about sailors on a ship. It showed their hard lives and deep emotions. People liked the play because it was realistic.

It is evident from Eugene O'Neill biography that he continued to write more plays. Some of his early plays were "The Moon of the Caribbees," "The Long Voyage Home," and "In the Zone". These plays were part of a collection called "The S S Glencairn". All these plays were about sailors and their lives at sea.

Major Works and Achievements.

Eugene O'Neill wrote many important plays throughout his career. Some of his most famous plays are "Beyond the Horizon," "Anna Christie," "The Emperor Jones," "The Hairy Ape," "Desire Under the Elms," "Strange Interlude," "Mourning Becomes Electra," "The Iceman Cometh," "A Moon for the Misbegotten," and "Long Day's Journey Into Night".

Personal Life.

Eugene O'Neill's biography is filled with challenges. He was married three times. His first wife was Kathleen Jenkins. They had a son named Eugene O'Neill Jr. However, their marriage ended in divorce. Eugene's second wife was Agnes Boulton. They had two children, Shane and Oona. This marriage also ended in divorce.

Eugene's third wife was Carlotta Monterey. They remained married until Eugene's death. Carlotta was very supportive of Eugene's work. She helped him during his difficult times.

Eugene had a troubled relationship with his children. His daughter, Oona, married the famous actor Charlie Chaplin when she was 18. Eugene was very unhappy about this and never spoke to her again.

Later Years and Death.

In his later years, Eugene O'Neill's health declined. He had a neurological disorder called Parkinson's disease. This disease made it difficult for him to write. Despite his illness, Eugene continued to work on his plays. He moved to a house in Danville, California, with Carlotta. This house is now a National Historic Site.

Eugene O'Neill died on November 27, 1953, in a hotel in Boston. He was 65 years old. His last words were, "I knew it. I knew it. Born in a hotel room, and God damn it, died in a hotel room".

Legacy.

Perusal of Eugene O'Neill biography transpires that he won four Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, more than any other playwright. He also received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1936. This was a great honor and showed how important his work was.

Thank you for watching this video on Eugene O'Neill biography.

00:00 - Introduction
00:18 - Early Life of Eugene O'Neill
01:10 - Education and Early Career
01:58 - Illness and Turning Point
02:40 - First Success
03:19 - Major Works and Achievements
03:42 - Personal Life
04:39 - Legacy
05:24 - Later Years and Death
05:44 - Conclusion

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