Garson Kanin

Kanin, Garson (1912–99), playwright and director. The Rochester, New York, native began his career as an actor, playing a small part in Little Ol' Boy (1933). For several years he served as assistant director to George Abbott before accepting directorial chores for Hitch Your Wagon (1937). After serving in World War II he achieved success both as director and playwright with his Born Yesterday (1946), then later that same year he directed Years Ago, a play by his wife, Ruth Gordon. Kanin later wrote and directed three interesting but unsuccessful plays: The Smile of the World (1949), The Rat Race (1949), and The Live Wire (1950). Subsequent directorial assignments included The Diary of Anne Frank (1955), A Hole in the Head (1957), and the musicals Do Re Mi (1960) and Funny Girl (1964). He was also active in television and films, sometimes working in collaboration with his wife.

Quotes:

"Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art."

"Amateurs hope, professionals work."