View source for David Mamet

{{Short description|American playwright, author, and filmmaker (born 1947)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox writer
|name         = David Mamet
|image        = David Mamet 2 by David Shankbone.JPG
|caption      = Mamet in 2008
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1947|11|30}}
|birth_place  = [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|occupation   = {{hlist|Playwright|author|screenwriter|film director}}
|notableworks = ''[[The Duck Variations]]'' (1971)<br /> ''[[Sexual Perversity in Chicago]]'' (1974)<br />''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1983)<ref name=BroadwayComOct12>Josh Ferri, [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/164979/expletives-awards-and-star-power-why-glengarry-glen-ross-sells-as-a-modern-american-classic/ "Expletives, Awards and Star Power: Why Glengarry Glen Ross Sells as a Modern American Classic | Broadway Buzz"], ''Broadway.com'', October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.</ref>
|period       = 1970–present
|spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Lindsay Crouse]]|1977|1990|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Rebecca Pidgeon]]|1991|}}
}}
|children     = 4, including [[Zosia Mamet]] and [[Clara Mamet]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Schleier|first=Curt|title=Clara Mamet Makes a Movie|date=April 22, 2014|website=The Forward|url=https://forward.com/schmooze/196852/clara-mamet-makes-a-movie/?amp=1|accessdate=January 23, 2024|quote=She is also the daughter of playwright David Mamet and English actress Rebecca Pidgeon, and she is the half-sister of Zosia Mamet…}}</ref>
|education    = [[Goddard College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
|signature    = David Mamet Signature.svg
}}

'''David Alan Mamet''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|m|ᵻ|t}}; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker. He won a [[Pulitzer Prize]] and received [[Tony Award|Tony]] nominations for his plays ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1983) and ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]'' (1988). He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays: ''[[The Duck Variations]]'', ''[[Sexual Perversity in Chicago]]'', and ''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]]''.<ref name="filmmakers1">{{cite web |title=David Mamet Biography |publisher=FilmMakers Magazine |url=http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/mamet/biography/ |access-date=January 18, 2007}}</ref> His plays ''[[Race (play)|Race]]'' and ''[[The Penitent (play)|The Penitent]]'', respectively, opened on [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] in 2009 and previewed off-Broadway in 2017.

Feature films that Mamet both wrote and directed include ''[[House of Games (film)|House of Games]]'' (1987), ''[[Homicide (1991 film)|Homicide]]'' (1991), ''[[The Spanish Prisoner]]'' (1997), and his biggest commercial success, ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' (2001). His screenwriting credits include ''[[The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film)|The Postman Always Rings Twice]]'' (1981), ''[[The Verdict]]'' (1982), ''[[The Untouchables (film)|The Untouchables]]'' (1987), ''[[Hoffa (film)|Hoffa]]'' (1992), ''[[Wag the Dog]]'' (1997), and ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]'' (2001). Mamet himself wrote the screenplay for the [[Glengarry Glen Ross (film)|1992 adaptation]] of ''Glengarry Glen Ross'', and wrote and directed the [[Oleanna (film)|1994 adaptation]] of his play ''[[Oleanna (play)|Oleanna]]'' (1992). He created and produced the [[CBS]] series ''[[The Unit]]'' (2006–2009).

Mamet's books include: ''[[On Directing Film]]'' (1991), a commentary and dialogue about film-making; ''The Old Religion'' (1997), a novel about the lynching of [[Leo Frank]]; ''Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy'' (2004), a [[Torah]] commentary with Rabbi [[Lawrence Kushner]]; ''[[The Wicked Son]]'' (2006), a study of [[Self-hating Jew|Jewish self-hatred]] and [[antisemitism]]; ''Bambi vs. Godzilla'', a commentary on the movie business; ''The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture'' (2011), a commentary on cultural and political issues; ''Three War Stories'' (2013), a trio of novellas about the physical and psychological effects of war; and ''Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood'' (2023), an autobiographical account of his experiences in Hollywood.

== Early life and education ==
Mamet was born in 1947 in Chicago to Lenore June (née Silver), a teacher, and Bernard Morris Mamet, a labor attorney. He is [[Jewish]]. His paternal grandparents were [[Polish Jews]].<ref name=tt>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/david-mamet-on-trump-the-harvey-weinstein-scandal-and-his-new-novel-chicago-kq7gmcnf9|title=David Mamet on Trump, the Harvey Weinstein scandal and his new novel, Chicago |work=[[The Times]]|date=March 31, 2018|access-date=March 11, 2019|last1=Hoyle |first1=Ben }}</ref> Mamet has said his parents were communists and described himself as a "[[red diaper baby]]".<ref name = Akbar>{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/23/trump-great-job-president-david-mamet-free-speech-gender-politics-election-rigging-woods|title = 'Trump did a great job as president' – David Mamet on free speech, gender politics and rigged elections|last = Akbar|first = Afira|work = [[The Guardian]]|date = February 23, 2022|accessdate = April 11, 2022}}</ref> One of his earliest jobs was as a busboy at Chicago's [[London House (Chicago)|London House]] and [[The Second City]]. He also worked as an actor, editor for [[Oui (magazine)|''Oui'' magazine]], and as a cab driver.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ae-david-mamet-chicago-novel-kogan-sidewalks-0225-story.html |title=David Mamet talks about his new book 'Chicago,' all about gangsters and Tribune reporters |last=Kogan |first=Rick |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=February 25, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was educated at the progressive [[Francis W. Parker School (Chicago)|Francis W. Parker School]] and at [[Goddard College]] in [[Plainfield, Vermont]]. At the [[Chicago Public Library|Chicago Public Library Foundation]] 20th anniversary fundraiser in 2006, Mamet stated, "My alma mater is the Chicago Public Library. I got what little educational foundation I got in the third-floor reading room, under the tutelage of a Coca-Cola sign".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mamet|first=David|title=My Alma Mater|journal=American Libraries|date=2006|pages=44–46}}</ref>

After a move to Chicago's North Side, Mamet met theater director [[Robert Sickinger]] and began to work occasionally at Sickinger's [[Hull House|Hull House Theatre]]. Thus began Mamet's lifelong involvement with the theater.<ref name="Nadel2016">{{cite book|author=I. Nadel|title=David Mamet: A Life in the Theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MVsYDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA26|date=April 30, 2016|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|isbn=978-0-230-37872-8|pages=26–27}}</ref>

==Career==

===Theater===
Mamet is a founding member of the [[Atlantic Theater Company]]; he first gained acclaim for a trio of off-Broadway plays in 1976, ''[[The Duck Variations]],'' ''[[Sexual Perversity in Chicago]],'' and ''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]].''<ref name="filmmakers1"/> He was awarded the [[Pulitzer Prize]] in 1984 for ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]],'' which received its first Broadway revival in the summer of 2005. His plays ''American Buffalo'' and ''Speed-the-Plow'' were included on [[Harold Bloom]]'s list of works constituting the [[The Western Canon|Western Canon]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bloom |first=Harold |title=The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages |date=1994 |publisher=Harcourt Brace |isbn=978-0-15-195747-7 |edition=1st |location=New York, NY |pages=566}}</ref> His play ''[[Race (play)|Race]]'', which opened on [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] on December 6, 2009, and featured [[James Spader]], [[David Alan Grier]], [[Kerry Washington]], and [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]] in the cast, received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Mamet's 'Race' on Broadway: What did the critics think? |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/12/david-mamets-race-on-broadway-what-did-the-critics-think.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=December 9, 2009}}</ref> His play ''The Anarchist'', starring [[Patti LuPone]] and [[Debra Winger]], in her Broadway debut, opened on Broadway on November 13, 2012, in previews and was scheduled to close on December 16, 2012.<ref>Hetrick, Adam.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/172884-David-Mamets-The-Anarchist-With-Patti-LuPone-and-Debra-Winger-Will-End-Broadway-Run-Dec-16 "David Mamet's 'The Anarchist', With Patti LuPone and Debra Winger, Will End Broadway Run Dec. 16"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208050720/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/172884-David-Mamets-The-Anarchist-With-Patti-LuPone-and-Debra-Winger-Will-End-Broadway-Run-Dec-16 |date=December 8, 2012}} playbill.com, December 4, 2012</ref> His 2017 play ''[[The Penitent (play)|The Penitent]]'' previewed off-Broadway on February 8, 2017.

In 2002, Mamet was inducted into the [[American Theater Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://209.183.229.132/news/article/72902/32nd-Annual-Theatre-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-Announced-Mamet-Channing-Grimes-Among-Names Playbill.com] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20140210015827/http://209.183.229.132/news/article/72902/32nd-Annual-Theatre-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-Announced-Mamet-Channing-Grimes-Among-Names |date=February 10, 2014}}</ref> Mamet later received the [[PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award]] for Grand Master of American Theater in 2010. In 2017, Mamet released an online class for writers entitled ''David Mamet teaches dramatic writing''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.com/2017/06/david-mamet-on-his-masterclass-curriculum-for-aspiring-dramatists/|title=David Mamet on His MasterClass Curriculum for Aspiring Dramatists|date=June 20, 2017|work=Observer|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019 Mamet returned to the London West End with a new play, ''Bitter Wheat'', at the [[Garrick Theatre]], starring [[John Malkovich]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |title=Bitter Wheat review – Malkovich and Mamet's monstrous misfire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/19/bitter-wheat-review-malkovich-and-mamets-monstrous-misfire |work=The Guardian |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> In 2023 it was announced that a new Mamet play, titled ''Henry Johnson'', was expected to debut in Los Angeles starring [[Shia LaBeouf]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2023/09/shia-labeouf-henry-johnson-david-mamet-1235522343/|title= Shia LaBeouf To Make Stage Debut In David Mamet Play 'Henry Johnson'|website= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date= August 25, 2023}}</ref>

===Film===
Mamet's first film work was as a screenwriter, later directing his own scripts. According to [[Joe Mantegna]], Mamet worked as a [[script doctor]] for the 1978 film ''[[Towing (film)|Towing]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|title=Joe Mantegna|date=April 21, 2009|website=The A.V. Club|url=https://www.avclub.com/joe-mantegna-1798216310|accessdate=June 19, 2022}}</ref> Mamet's first produced screenplay was the 1981 production of ''[[The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film)|The Postman Always Rings Twice]]'', based on [[James M. Cain]]'s novel. He received an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination one year later for the 1982 legal drama, ''[[The Verdict]]''. He also wrote the screenplays for ''[[The Untouchables (film)|The Untouchables]]'' (1987), ''[[Hoffa (film)|Hoffa]]'' (1992), ''[[The Edge (1997 film)|The Edge]]'' (1997), ''[[Wag the Dog]]'' (1997), ''[[Ronin (film)|Ronin]]'' (1998), and ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]'' (2001). He received a second [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination for ''Wag the Dog''.

In 1987, Mamet made his film directing debut with his screenplay ''[[House of Games (film)|House of Games]]'', which won the [[Golden Osella]] Best Screenplay awards at the 1987 [[Venice Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Games |url=https://asac.labiennale.org/attivita/cinema/8844 |publisher=Venice Biennale |access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref> and the [[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Film of the Year|Film of the Year]] in 1989 from the [[London Film Critics' Circle Awards]]. The film starred his then-wife, [[Lindsay Crouse]], and many longtime stage associates and friends,  including fellow [[Goddard College]] graduates.<ref>''Life'' magazine (Oct. 1987, V. 10 No. 11)</ref> Mamet was quoted as saying, "It was my first film as a director and I needed support, so I stacked the deck."{{citation needed|date=September 2010}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Games Movie |url=https://casinoinmovies.com/house-of-games.htm |website=casinoinmovies.com}}</ref> After ''House of Games'', Mamet later wrote and directed two more films focusing on the world of con artists, ''[[The Spanish Prisoner]]'' (1997) and ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' (2001). Among those films, ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' enjoyed the biggest commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/movies/box-office-analysis-nov-11-57232728/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921210011/http://www.hollywood.com/movies/box-office-analysis-nov-11-57232728/|archive-date=September 21, 2015|title=Box Office Analysis: Nov. 11|date=November 11, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=heist.htm |title=Heist |access-date=February 19, 2009 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.imdb.com/Charts/video020609 |title=Top Video Rentals for the week ending June 09, 2002 |website=us.imdb.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021216041748/http://us.imdb.com/Charts/video020609 |archive-date=December 16, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Other films that Mamet both wrote and directed include: ''[[Things Change (film)|Things Change]]'' (1988), ''[[Homicide (1991 film)|Homicide]]'' (1991) (nominated for the Palme d'Or at 1991 [[Cannes Film Festival]] and won a "Screenwriter of the Year" award for Mamet from the [[London Film Critics' Circle Awards]]), ''[[Oleanna (film)|Oleanna]]'' (1994), ''[[The Winslow Boy (1999 film)|The Winslow Boy]]'' (1999), ''[[State and Main]]'' (2000), ''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]'' (2004), ''[[Redbelt]]'' (2008), and the 2013 bio-pic TV movie ''[[Phil Spector (film)|Phil Spector]]''.

A feature-length film, a thriller titled ''Blackbird'', was intended for release in 2015, but is still in development.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Badge Dale Joins Cate Blanchett In David Mamet's 'Blackbird' |url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/james-badge-dale-joins-cate-blanchett-in-david-mamets-blackbird-629015/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=November 24, 2013}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:David Mamet - 1978.jpg|thumb|left|Mamet in 1978]] -->

When Mamet adapted his play for the 1992 film ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross (film)|Glengarry Glen Ross]]'', he wrote an additional part (including the monologue "[[Coffee's for closers]]") for [[Alec Baldwin]].

Mamet continues to work with an informal repertory company for his films, including Crouse, [[William H. Macy]], [[Joe Mantegna]], and [[Rebecca Pidgeon]], as well as the aforementioned school friends.

Mamet rewrote the script for ''[[Ronin (film)|Ronin]]'' under the pseudonym "Richard Weisz" and turned in an early version of a script for ''[[Malcolm X (1992 film)|Malcolm X]]'' which was rejected by director [[Spike Lee]].<ref name="MalcolmX">{{cite magazine |last=Simpson |first=Janet |title=The Battle To Film Malcolm X |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975087-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105112509/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975087-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2008 |magazine=Time |access-date=March 20, 2007 | date=March 16, 1992}}</ref>  Mamet also wrote an unproduced biopic script about [[Roscoe Arbuckle]] with [[Chris Farley]] intended to portray him.<ref name="Fatty">{{cite web|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|title=Fatty fall down, make tragedy: The Chris Farley Show|date=June 9, 2009|website=The A.V. Club|url=https://www.avclub.com/fatty-fall-down-make-tragedy-the-chris-farley-show-1798217093|accessdate=June 19, 2022|quote=For Farley, the projects that could have pulled him out of a steep professional downward spiral were a plucky animated comedy called Shrek and a David Mamet-penned biopic of Fatty Arbuckle.}}</ref>  In 2000, Mamet directed a film version of ''[[Beckett on Film#Catastrophe|Catastrophe]],'' a one-act play by [[Samuel Beckett]] featuring [[Harold Pinter]] and [[John Gielgud]] (in his final screen performance). In 2008, he wrote and directed the [[mixed martial arts]] movie ''[[Redbelt]],'' about a martial arts instructor tricked into fighting in a professional bout.

In ''[[On Directing Film]]'', Mamet advocates for a method of storytelling based on Eisenstein's montage theory, stating that the story should be told through the juxtaposition of uninflected images. This method relies heavily on the cut between scenes, and Mamet urges directors to eliminate as much narration as possible. Mamet asserts that directors should focus on getting the point of a scene across, rather than simply following a protagonist, or adding visually beautiful or intriguing shots. Films should create order from disorder in search of the objective.

In 2023, reports emerged that Mamet would direct and co-write a new film titled ''Assassination'', his first film since 2008. The film will center around the [[Chicago Outfit|Chicago Mob]] ordering the [[assassination of John F. Kennedy]], and will star [[Viggo Mortensen]], [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Courtney Love]], [[Al Pacino]], and [[John Travolta]]. The film's production was scheduled to start in September 2023.<ref name="Assassination">{{cite news|last=Ravindran|first=Manori|title=Viggo Mortensen, Shia LaBeouf, Courtney Love Board David Mamet's JFK Thriller 'Assassination' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/jfk-assassination-viggo-mortensen-shia-labeouf-david-mamet-1235612087/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=15 May 2023}}</ref> In October, [[Barry Levinson]] took over as the film's director, while Mamet remained as the screenwriter.<ref name="Assass2">{{cite news|title=Barry Levinson Set To Direct Al Pacino Starring, David Mamet-Scripted JFK Thriller 'Assassination' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/barry-levinson-assassination-al-pacino-1235576261/|work=Deadline|date=17 October 2023}}</ref>

In June 2024, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that the film, titled ''The Prince'', will be directed by [[Cameron Van Hoy]], which will center around [[Hunter Biden]], the second son of Former U.S. President [[Joe Biden]]. It will star [[Scott Haze]] as the lead character Parker; alongside [[Nicolas Cage]], [[J.K. Simmons]], [[Giancarlo Esposito]], and [[Andy Garcia]]. Mamet added that the film won't be "a travelogue", and will be inspired by Hunter's life, rather than serve as a [[Biographical film|biopic]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title=Hunter Biden-Inspired Addiction Pic 'The Prince' In Works From Cameron Van Hoy & David Mamet; Scott Haze, Nicolas Cage, J.K. Simmons, Giancarlo Esposito & Andy Garcia To Star|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/hunter-biden-movie-the-prince-casts-nicolas-cage-giancarlo-esposito-more-1235971590/comment-page-2/#comments|work=Deadline|date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

In early 2026, it was announced that Mamet would direct an adaptation of his [[Tony Awards|Tony]]-winning play ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]''. Starring [[Anthony Mackie]], [[Ben Mendelsohn]], [[Sharon Stone]], [[Rebecca Pidgeon]], and [[Emily Alyn Lind]], it will be his first Hollywood production since 2008. Pre-production started in February 2026, while principal production is expected to start on by February 18, in [[Atlanta]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=2026-02-07 |title=David Mamet To Direct Anthony Mackie, Ben Mendelsohn, Emily Alyn Lind & Sharon Stone In Film Version Of His Hollywood Satire 'Speed The Plow' – EFM |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/david-mamet-anthony-mackie-sharon-stone-speed-the-plow-film-1236711790/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Books===
Mamet published the essay collection ''Writing in Restaurants'' in 1986, followed by the poetry collection ''The Hero Pony'' in 1990.  He has also published a series of short plays, monologues and four novels, ''The Village'' (1994), ''The Old Religion'' (1997), ''Wilson: A Consideration of the Sources'' (2000), and ''Chicago'' (2018). He has written several non-fiction texts, and children's stories, including ''True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor ''(1997).  In 2004 he published a lauded version of the classical [[Faust]] story, ''Faustus'', however, when the play was staged in [[San Francisco]] during the spring of 2004, it was not well received by critics.<ref>{{cite web |last=von Buchau |first=Stephanie |title=Dr. Faustus |url=http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/4489 |publisher=TheaterMania |access-date=March 13, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023060400/http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/4489 |archive-date=October 23, 2004}}</ref> On May 1, 2010, Mamet released a graphic novel ''The Trials of Roderick Spode (The Human Ant)''.

Mamet detailed his conversion from modern liberalism to "a reformed liberal" in ''The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite web | title=C-SPAN Video: The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture |url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SecretK }}</ref> Mamet published ''Three War Stories'', a collection of novellas, in 2013 ; the novel ''The Diary of a Porn Star by Priscilla Wriston-Ranger: As Told to David Mamet With an Afterword by Mr. Mamet'' in 2019;<ref>{{cite web| url = https://posthillpress.com/book/the-diary-of-a-porn-star-by-priscilla-wriston-ranger-as-told-to-david-mamet-with-an-afterword-by-mr-mamet| title = The Diary of a Porn Star by Priscilla Wriston-Ranger: As Told to David Mamet with an Afterword by Mr. Mamet}}</ref> and the political commentary ''Recessional: The Death of Free Speech and the Cost of a Free Lunch'' in 2022. In 2023 Mamet recounted his experiences in Hollywood and the movie-making industry in ''Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood.''<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Everywhere-an-Oink-Oink/David-Mamet/9781668026311 |title=Everywhere an Oink Oink |date=2023-12-05 |isbn=978-1-6680-2631-1 |language=en |last1=Mamet |first1=David |publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref>

=== Television and radio ===
Mamet wrote one episode of ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', "A Wasted Weekend", that aired in 1987. His then-wife, [[Lindsay Crouse]], appeared in numerous episodes (including that one) as Officer McBride. Mamet is also the creator, producer and frequent writer of the television series ''[[The Unit]]'', where he wrote a well-circulated [http://movieline.com/2010/03/23/david-mamets-memo-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/ memo] to the writing staff. He directed a third-season episode of ''[[The Shield]]'' with [[Shawn Ryan]]. In 2007, Mamet directed two television commercials for [[Ford Motor Company]]. The two 30-second ads featured the [[Ford Edge]] and were filmed in Mamet's signature style of fast-paced dialogue and clear, simple imagery. Mamet's sister, [[Lynn Mamet|Lynn]], is a producer and writer for television shows, such as ''The Unit'' and ''Law & Order''.

Mamet has contributed several dramas to [[BBC Radio]] through Jarvis & Ayres Productions, including an adaptation of ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' for [[BBC Radio 3]] and new dramas for [[BBC Radio 4]]. The comedy ''Keep Your Pantheon (or On the Whole I'd Rather Be in Mesopotamia)'' was aired in 2007. ''The Christopher Boy's Communion'' was another Jarvis & Ayres production, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on March 8, 2021.

== Style and reception ==
=== Mamet speak ===

Mamet's style of writing dialogue, marked by a cynical, street-smart edge, has come to be called ''Mamet speak.''<ref>A Companion to Twentieth-century American Drama, David Krasner, Blackwell Publishing, 2005, p. 410</ref> Mamet himself has criticized his (and other writers') tendency to write "pretty" at the expense of sound, logical plots.<ref>{{cite book|title=Writing in Restaurants |url=https://archive.org/details/writinginrestaur00mame |url-access=registration |last=Mamet |first=David|year=1987 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9780140089813 }}</ref> When asked how he developed his style for writing dialogue, Mamet said, "In my family, in the days prior to television, we liked to while away the evenings by making ourselves miserable, based solely on our ability to speak the language viciously. That's probably where my ability was honed."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Playboy Interviews: The Directors |editor=Stephen Randall |year=2006 |publisher=M Press |page=276 |chapter=David Mamet: April 1996, interviewed by Geoffrey Norman and John Rezek}}</ref>

=== Gender issues ===
Mamet's plays have frequently sparked debate and controversy.<ref name="TG">{{cite news|url=http://bway.ly/e1kah#https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/jul/08/david-mamet-warns-theatres-25000-fine-if-you-discuss-my-work-glengarry-glen-ross-oleanna|title=David Mamet's $25,000 threat to theatres over post-show talks|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|first=Dalya|last=Alberge|date=July 8, 2017|access-date=July 12, 2017}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2026}} Following a 1992 staging of ''[[Oleanna (play)|Oleanna]]'', a play in which a college student  accuses her professor of trying to rape her,<ref name="Chiaramonte">{{cite journal |last1=Chiaramonte |first1=Peter |title=Power play: The dynamics of power and interpersonal communication in higher education as reflected in David Mamet's Oleanna |journal=Canadian Journal of Higher Education |date=2014 |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=38–51 |doi=10.47678/cjhe.v44i1.182431 |url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1028749.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409163153/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1028749.pdf |archive-date=2015-04-09 |url-status=live|doi-access=free }}</ref> a critic reported that the play divided the audience by gender and recounted that "couples emerged screaming at each other".<ref name="TG" />

In his 2014 book ''David Mamet and Male Friendship'', Arthur Holmberg examined Mamet's portrayal of male friendships, especially focusing on the contradictions and ambiguities of [[male bonding]] as dramatized in Mamet's plays and films.<ref>Holmberg, Arthur (2014). ''David Mamet and Male Friendship'', 276 pages, Palgrave Macmillan, {{ISBN|978-1137305183}}.</ref>

=== Archives ===
The papers of David Mamet were sold to the [[Harry Ransom Center]] at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] in 2007 and first opened for research in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Mamet: An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center |url=http://norman.hrc.utexas.edu/fasearch/findingAid.cfm?eadid=00486p1 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |website=norman.hrc.utexas.edu}}</ref> The growing collection consists mainly of manuscripts and related production materials for most of his plays, films, and other writings, but also includes his personal journals from 1966 to 2005. In 2015, the Ransom Center secured a second major addition to Mamet's papers, including more recent works. Additional materials relating to Mamet and his career can be found in the Ransom Center's collections of [[Robert De Niro]], [[Mel Gussow]], [[Tom Stoppard]], [[Sam Shepard]], [[Paul Schrader]], [[Don DeLillo]], and John Russell Brown.

==Personal life==
Mamet and actress [[Lindsay Crouse]] married in 1977 and divorced in 1990. The couple have two children. Mamet has been married to actress and singer-songwriter [[Rebecca Pidgeon]] since 1991, and they have two children. Mamet and Pidgeon live in [[Santa Monica, California]].<ref name=tt/><ref name = Akbar/>

Mamet is a [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jew]] and Zionist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5164626 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032435/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5164626 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |title=An Interview With David Mamet on Israel and Zionism|publisher=haaretz.com |date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Political views===
In 2005, Mamet became a contributing blogger for ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', drawing satirical cartoons with themes including political strife in Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/david-mamet |title=David Mamet – Politics on The Huffington Post |website=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref> In a 2008 essay at ''[[The Village Voice]]'' titled "Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal{{' "}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Mamet |first=David |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/03/11/david-mamet-why-i-am-no-longer-a-brain-dead-liberal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808071728/https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/03/11/david-mamet-why-i-am-no-longer-a-brain-dead-liberal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |title=David Mamet: Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal' |newspaper=[[Village Voice]] |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> he discussed how his political views had shifted from [[modern liberalism in the United States|liberalism]] to [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatism]]. In interviews, Mamet has highlighted his agreement with [[free market]] theorists such as [[Friedrich Hayek]],<ref>"David Mamet," ''[[Freedom Watch]] with Judge [[Andrew Napolitano]]'', ''[[Fox Business Network]]'', June 8, 2011.</ref> the historian [[Paul Johnson (writer)|Paul Johnson]], and economist [[Thomas Sowell]], whom Mamet called "one of our greatest minds". In 2022, Mamet declined to explicitly label himself a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], but described himself as a conservative who "would like to conserve those things I grew up with: the love of family, the love of the country, love of service, love of God, love of community".<ref name = Akbar/>

During promotion of a book, Mamet said British people had "a taint of [[antisemitism|anti-semitism]]," claiming they "want to give [Israel] away to some people whose claim is rather dubious."<ref name="Gapper">{{cite news|last=Gapper |first=John |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/ft/2011/06/lunch_with_david_mamet.html?via=gdpr-consent|title=Lunch With David Mamet|work=Slate|agency=Financial Times|date=June 11, 2011|access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref> In the same interview, Mamet went on to say that "there are famous dramatists and novelists [in the UK] whose works are full of anti-Semitic filth." He refused to give examples because of British libel laws (the interview was conducted in New York City for the ''[[Financial Times]]'').<ref name="Gapper"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Thorpe|first=Vanessa|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/jun/12/david-mamet-antisemitism-britain|title=David Mamet launches tirade against 'antisemitism' of British writers|work=The Observer|date=June 12, 2011|access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref> He is known for his pro-Israel positions; in his book ''The Secret Knowledge'' he claimed that "Israelis would like to live in peace within their borders; the Arabs would like to kill them all."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/culture/2011/06/16/a-liberal-recants | newspaper=The Economist | title=A liberal recants | date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

Mamet endorsed Republican [[Mitt Romney]] for [[2012 United States presidential election|president in 2012]], and wrote an article for ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'' imploring fellow Jewish Americans to vote for Romney.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mamet |first=David |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/the_final_obama_romney_showdown_a_note_to_a_stiff_necked_people |title=The final Obama/Romney showdown: A note to a stiff-necked people &#124; Opinion |publisher=Jewish Journal |date=November 1, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Arellano |first=Jennifer |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/11/05/david-mamet-mitt-romney/ |title=David Mamet implores fellow Jews to vote for Mitt Romney &#124; PopWatch &#124; EW.com |publisher=Popwatch.ew.com |date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref>

In an essay for ''[[Newsweek]]'', published on January 29, 2013, Mamet argued against [[gun control]] laws: "It was intended to guard us against this inevitable decay of government that the Constitution was written. Its purpose was and is not to enthrone a Government superior to an imperfect and confused electorate, but to protect us from such a government."<ref>{{cite web |last=Mamet |first=David |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Gun Laws and the Fools of Chelm |url=https://www.newsweek.com/gun-laws-and-fools-chelm-63139 |website=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref>

Mamet has described the [[U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present)|NFL anthem protests]] as "absolutely fucking despicable".<ref name=tt/> In a 2020 interview, he described [[Donald Trump]] as a "great president" and [[List of Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign non-political endorsements|supported his re-election]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://soundcloud.com/breitbart/breitbart-news-daily-david-mamet-january-23-2020| title = Exclusive — David Mamet: Trump Is a 'Great President,' Left's Reaction Has Been 'Psychotic'|website=[[Breitbart News]]|date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> After Trump lost the election, Mamet appeared to endorse [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|claims that the election had been illegitimate]] in his 2022 book ''Recessional: The Death of Free Speech and the Cost of a Free Lunch'', though shortly after its publication, he said he "misspoke" on the subject.<ref name = Evans>{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2022/04/david-mamet-fox-news-teachers-pedophilia-1234999992/|title = 'American Buffalo' Playwright David Mamet Tells Fox News That Teachers 'Are Inclined' To Pedophilia|work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date = April 11, 2022|accessdate = April 11, 2022|last = Evans|first = Greg}}</ref>

In 2022, Mamet made comments in support of [[Florida Parental Rights in Education Act|Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act]], called the "Don't Say Gay" bill by its critics,<ref>{{cite web |title=CS/CS/HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=76545 |website=Florida House of Representatives |access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref> which restricts what public school teachers in Florida can discuss with children in kindergarten through third grade about [[sexual orientation]] and [[gender identity]]. In an interview with [[Fox News]], Mamet claimed that the law was necessary because teachers "are abusing [children] mentally and using sex to do so", further alleging that "teachers are inclined, particularly men because men are predators, to [[pedophilia]]".<ref name = Evans/><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bort |first1=Ryan |title=David Mamet Comes Out as Right-Wing Culture Warrior, Claims Teachers Are Inclined to Pedophilia |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/david-mamet-teachers-pedophilia-fox-news-1335736/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 11, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref>

==Works==
=== Theatre ===
{{div col | colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Lakeboat]]'' (1970)
* ''[[The Duck Variations]]'' (1972)
* ''Lone Canoe or The Explorer<ref>https://ovrtur.com/production/2901232</ref>'' (1979)
* ''[[Sexual Perversity in Chicago]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Squirrels (play)|Squirrels]]'' (1974)
* ''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]]'' (1975)
* ''Reunion'' (1976)
* ''[[The Water Engine]]'' (1976)
* ''[[A Life in the Theatre]]'' (1977)
* ''[[The Woods (play)|The Woods]]'' (1977)
* ''The Revenge of the Space Pandas, or Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock'' (1978)
* ''Mr. Happiness'' (1978)
* ''[[Prairie du Chien (play)|Prairie du Chien]]'' (1978)
* ''The Blue Hour'' (1979)
* ''Lakeboat (revision)'' (1980)
* ''[[Edmond (play)|Edmond]]'' (1982)
* ''[[The Frog Prince (Mamet play)|The Frog Prince]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1983)
* ''[[The Shawl]]'' (1985)
* ''Goldberg Street: Short Plays and Monologues'' (1985)
* ''The Poet & The Rent'' (1986)
* ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Bobby Gould in Hell]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Oleanna (play)|Oleanna]]'' (1992)
* ''[[The Cryptogram]]'' (1994)
* ''[[The Old Neighborhood (play)|The Old Neighborhood]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Boston Marriage (play)|Boston Marriage]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Faustus (play)|Faustus]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Romance (Mamet play)|Romance]]'' (2005)
* ''[[The Voysey Inheritance]]'' (adaptation) (2005)
* ''Keep Your Pantheon'' (2007)
* ''[[November (play)|November]]'' (2007)
* ''The Vikings and Darwin'' (2008)
* ''[[Race (play)|Race]]'' (2009)
* ''School'' (2009)
* ''[[The Anarchist (play)|The Anarchist]]'' (2012)
* ''[[China Doll (play)|China Doll]]'' (2015)
* ''[[The Penitent (play)|The Penitent]]'' (2017)
* ''Bitter Wheat'' (2019)
* ''The Christopher Boy's Communion''<ref>{{cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=February 13, 2020|title=William H. Macy, Fionnula Flanagan Star in World Premiere of David Mamet's The Christopher Boy's Communion Beginning February 13|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/william-h-macy-fionnula-flanagan-star-in-world-premiere-of-david-mamets-the-christopher-boys-communion-beginning-february-13|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> (2020)
* ''Henry Johnson'' (2023) 
{{div col end}}

===Film ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
! Notes
|-
| 1981
| ''[[The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film)|The Postman Always Rings Twice]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1982
| ''[[The Verdict]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1987
| ''[[The Untouchables (film)|The Untouchables]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[House of Games (film)|House of Games]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Things Change (film)|Things Change]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1989
| ''[[We're No Angels (1989 film)|We're No Angels]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Homicide (1991 film)|Homicide]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1992
| ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross (film)|Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Also based on his play
|-
| ''[[Hoffa (film)|Hoffa]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Also associate producer
|-
|1994
| ''[[Oleanna (film)|Oleanna]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| rowspan=2| Also based on his play
|-
| 1996
| ''[[American Buffalo (film)|American Buffalo]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
|rowspan=3| 1997
| ''[[The Spanish Prisoner]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[The Edge (1997 film)|The Edge]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Wag the Dog]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Ronin (film)|Ronin]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Credited as "Richard Weisz"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Winslow Boy (1999 film)|The Winslow Boy]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000
| ''[[Lakeboat (film)|Lakeboat]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Also based on his play
|-
| ''[[State and Main]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001
| ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Edmond (film)|Edmond]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Also based on his play
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Redbelt]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2023
| ''The Penitent''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| rowspan="2"|Also based on his play
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Henry Johnson (film)|Henry Johnson]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Gardner|first=Chris|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/shia-labeouf-david-mamet-play-henry-johnson-1235626285/|title=Shia LaBeouf Talks David Mamet, Career Struggles and Sobriety in Impromptu Parking Lot Interview|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=October 29, 2024}}</ref>
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{TBA}}
| ''[[The Prince (upcoming film)|The Prince]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/hunter-biden-movie-the-prince-casts-nicolas-cage-giancarlo-esposito-more-1235971590/|title=Hunter Biden-Inspired Addiction Pic 'The Prince' In Works From Cameron Van Hoy & David Mamet; Scott Haze, Nicolas Cage, J.K. Simmons, Giancarlo Esposito & Andy Garcia To Star|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=June 12, 2024}}</ref>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Post-production
|-
| {{TBA}}
| ''[[Speed-the-Plow (film)|Speed-the-Plow]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also based on his play;<br>Post-production
|}

'''Short film'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
|-
|2000
|''Catastrophe''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|rowspan=5|2010
|''[[Lost Masterpieces of Pornography]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|''Inside the Actor's Workshop''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|''The Marquee''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|''Our Valley''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|''Two Painters''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Black Widow (1987 film)|Black Widow]]''
| Herb
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Beau Is Afraid]]''
| Rabbi
| Voice role
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Marty Supreme]]''
| Glenn Nordmann
|
|}

=== Television ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
! Executive<br>Producer
! Notes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Episode "A Wasted Weekend"
|-
| 1996
| ''Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| TV special
|-
|2004
|''[[The Shield]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Episode "Strays"
|-
| 2006–2009
| ''[[The Unit]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also creator<br/>Directed 4 episodes, wrote 11 episodes 
|-
|}

'''TV movies'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
! Executive<br>Producer
! Notes
|-
| 1992
| ''[[The Water Engine (film)|The Water Engine]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|rowspan=2| Also based on his play 
|-
| 1993
| ''[[A Life in the Theatre (1993 film)|A Life in the Theatre]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 1994
| ''Texan''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Lansky (1999 film)|Lansky]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Phil Spector (film)|Phil Spector]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1992
| ''[[The Water Engine (film)|The Water Engine]]''
| Brown Haired Man
| TV movie
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]''
|rowspan=2|Himself (voice)
| Episode "New Telephone System"
|-
| 2011
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Episode "[[Homer the Father]]"
|-
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Association 
!Year
!Category
!Project 
!Result
! Ref.
|-
!colspan=6|Theater Awards
|-
| rowspan=7| [[Drama Desk Awards]] 
| 1977
| rowspan=7| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play|Outstanding Play]]
| ''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1978
| ''[[The Water Engine]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| {{center|1983}}
| ''[[Edmond (play)|Edmond]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1988
|  ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Oleanna (play)|Oleanna]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1995
| ''[[The Cryptogram]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan=2|[[New York Drama Critics' Circle]]
| 1977
|rowspan=2| Best American Play
| ''[[American Buffalo (play)|American Buffalo]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Pulitzer Prize]]
| 1984
|rowspan=2| [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Drama]]
| ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| {{win}}
|
|-
| 1995
| ''[[The Cryptogram]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Tony Awards]]
| [[38th Tony Awards|1984]]
|rowspan=2| [[Tony Award for Best Play|Best Play]]
| ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[42nd Tony Awards|1988]]
| ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
!colspan=6|Film and Television Awards
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Academy Awards]]
| [[55th Academy Awards|1982]]
| rowspan=2| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| ''[[The Verdict]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983|title= 55th Academy Awards|website= [[Academy Awards|Oscars.org]]|date= October 5, 2014|accessdate= September 10, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[70th Academy Awards|1997]]
| ''[[Wag the Dog]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998|title= 70th Academy Awards|website= [[Academy Awards|Oscars.org]]|date= October 5, 2014|accessdate= September 10, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[British Academy Film Awards]] 
| [[52nd British Academy Film Awards|1998]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| ''[[Wag the Dog]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1998/film|title= 1998 British Academy Film Awards|website= BAFTA.org|accessdate= September 10, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Golden Globe Awards]] 
| [[40th Golden Globe Awards|1983]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| ''[[The Verdict]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="globes">{{cite web |title= David Mamet - Golden Globes|url= https://goldenglobes.com/person/david-mamet/|access-date= September 10, 2024|publisher= [[Golden Globe Awards]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[45th Golden Globe Awards|1987]]
| ''[[House of Games]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="globes" />
|-
| [[55th Golden Globe Awards|1997]]
| ''[[Wag the Dog]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="globes" /> 
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| rowspan="3" | [[65th Primetime Emmy Awards|2013]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series|Outstanding Miniseries or Movie]]
| rowspan="3"| ''[[Phil Spector (film)|Phil Spector]]''
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=3| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2013|title= 65th Primetime Emmy Award|website= [[Emmy Awards|Television Academy]]|accessdate= September 10, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special|Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special|Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|}

== Bibliography ==
* ''Writing in Restaurants'' (1987)
* ''Some Freaks'' (1989)
* ''[[On Directing Film]]'' (1991)
* ''The Cabin: Reminiscence and Diversions'' (1992)
* ''The Village'' (1994)
* ''A Whore's Profession'' (1994)
* ''Make-Believe Town: Essays and Remembrances'' (1996)
* ''The Old Religion'' (1997)
* ''[[Three Uses of the Knife]]'' (1998)
* ''[[True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor]]'' (1999)
* ''The Chinaman'' (1999)
* ''Jafsie and John Henry: Essays'' (1999)
* ''Wilson: A Consideration of the Sources'' (2000)
* ''South of the Northeast Kingdom'' (2002)
* ''Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy'' (with [[Lawrence Kushner]]) (2003)
* ''[[The Wicked Son|The Wicked Son: Anti-Semitism, Self-hatred, and the Jews]]'' (2006)
* ''Bambi Vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business'' (2007)
* ''Theatre'' (2010)
* ''The Trials of Roderick Spode (The Human Ant)'' (2010)
* ''The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture'' (2011)
* ''Three War Stories'' (2013)
* ''Chicago'' (2018)
* ''The Diary of a Porn Star by Priscilla Wriston-Ranger: As Told to David Mamet With an Afterword by Mr. Mamet'' (2019)
* ''Recessional: The Death of Free Speech and the Cost of a Free Lunch''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mamet |first1=David |title=Recessional: The Death of Free Speech and the Cost of a Free Lunch' |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/recessional-david-mamet?variant=39402948132898 |website=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref> (2022)
* ''Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood'' (2023)
* ''The Disenlightenment: Politics, Horror, and Entertainment'' (2025)

== Unrealized projects ==
* ''[[Ace in the Hole (1951 film)|Ace in the Hole]]'' remake (1990) – Script for [[Brian De Palma]] to direct<ref>{{cite book|last1=Blumenfeld|first1=Samuel|author-link1=Samuel Blumenfeld|last2=Vachaud|first2=Laurent|title=Brian De Palma: Entretiens avec Samuel Blumenfeld et Laurent Vachaud|year=2001|publisher=Calmann-Lévy|location=Paris|isbn=978-2702130612}}</ref>
* ''[[Malcolm X (1992 film)|The Autobiography of Malcolm X]]'' (1992) – Unused early draft<ref name="MalcolmX"/>
* ''[[Charlie Chan]] in Horse and Rider'' (1992) – Script for [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]<ref name="LA Times">{{cite news|last=Stayton|first=Richard|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-23-tm-7341-story.html|title=Enter Scowling : Prolific, Profane and Relentlessly Macho,Playwright David Mamet Does Battle With the Tyranny of Political Correctness|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 23, 1992|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/charlie-chan-horse-rider-original-1497736106|title=CHARLIE CHAN IN HORSE AND RIDER ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, BY DAVID MAMET|website=WorthPoint|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''Ordinary Daylight'' (1992) – Based on the memoir, for Warner Bros.<ref name="LA Times"/>
* ''[[High and Low (1963 film)|High and Low]]'' remake (1993) – Script for [[Martin Scorsese]] to direct<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Marx |first=Andy |date=May 19, 1993 |title=U buys 'High' for Scorsese |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/u-buys-high-for-scorsese-106956/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref>
* ''Moby-Dick'' (1990s) – Based on the [[Moby-Dick|novel]]<ref name="CT">{{cite news|last=Christiansen|first=Richard|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/05/25/on-greatness-mamets-lolita-and-the-river-ota/|title=ON GREATNESS, MAMET'S 'LOLITA' AND 'THE RIVER OTA'|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=May 25, 1997|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>
* ''[[Lolita (1997 film)|Lolita]]'' (1997) – Unused early draft<ref name="CT"/>
* ''Will B. Good'' (1997) – Based on ''Frame-Up: The Untold Story of [[Roscoe Arbuckle|Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]]''<ref name="Fatty"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Seibold|first=Whitney|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1226527/chris-farleys-dream-project-was-a-roscoe-fatty-arbuckle-biopic/|title=Chris Farley's Dream Project Was A Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Biopic|website=[[/Film]]|date=March 18, 2023|access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref>
* ''Diary of a Young London Physician'' (1998) – Based on ''[[Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde]]'', for [[Michael Corrente]] to direct<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/mamet-pacino-to-hyde-iscove-s-all-that-1117467712/|title=Mamet, Pacino to 'Hyde'; Iscove's 'All That'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 11, 1998|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jan/31/news3|title=In brief: Law in talks for Mamet's Jekyll|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 31, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Stax|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/11/pidgeon-flocks-to-young-london-physician|title=Pidgeon Flocks to Young London Physician|website=[[IGN]]|date=March 11, 2002|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref>
* ''Investigation'' (1999) – Script for [[USA Films]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Brodesser|first=Charles|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/egg-fostering-investigation-1117757064/|title=Egg fostering 'Investigation'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 27, 1999|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>
* ''Payback'' (1998) – Based on the novel, for [[Ted Demme]] to direct<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/payback-players-garcia-hooked-on-swing-1117489181/|title='Payback' players; Garcia hooked on 'Swing'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 7, 1998|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>
* ''Dillinger'' (2002) – Based on the life of [[John Dillinger]], for [[Kimberly Peirce]] to direct<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Fleming, Michael|author2=Lyons, Charles|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/mamet-guns-for-dillinger-1117872269/|title=Mamet guns for Dillinger|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 3, 2002|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>
* ''Joan of Bark: The Dog That Saved France'' (2004) – Writer/director, for [[Columbia Pictures]]<ref>{{cite web|last=B.|first=Brian|url=https://movieweb.com/david-mamet-directing-will-ferrell-in-joan-of-bark-the-dog-that-saved-france/|title=David Mamet directing Will Ferrell in Joan of Bark: the Dog that Saved France|website=[[MovieWeb]]|date=June 2, 2004|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''The Prince of Providence '' (2004) – Based on the [[The Prince of Providence|novel]], for Michael Corrente to direct<ref>{{cite web|author=Stax|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/14/mamets-new-buddy|title=Mamet's New Buddy|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 14, 2004|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''The Bones'' (2005) – Based on the novel, for [[Columbia Pictures]]<ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine|last=LaPorte|first=Nicole|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/features/col-makes-bones-about-it-1117919613/|title=Col makes 'Bones' about it|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 15, 2005|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''Whistle'' (2005) – Based on the [[Whistle (novel)|novel]], for Columbia Pictures<ref name="Variety"/>
* ''The Diary of Anne Frank'' (2009) – Adaptation of the [[The Diary of a Young Girl|novel]], for [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney Pictures]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Child|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/12/david-mamet-anne-frank-film|title=David Mamet to tackle Anne Frank|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=August 12, 2009|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''Come Back to Sorrento'' (2009) – Based on the [[Come Back to Sorrento (novel)|novel]], for [[Michael Worth]] to direct<ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Evan|url=https://movieweb.com/firefly-and-bla-bla-bla-to-make-come-back-to-sorrento/|title=Firefly and Bla Bla Bla to Make Come Back to Sorrento|website=[[MovieWeb]]|date=December 17, 2009|access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Have Gun – Will Travel]]'' TV series reboot (2013) – Writer/director, for [[CBS]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Rose, Lacey |date=2012-08-21 |title=CBS, David Mamet Developing 'Have Gun – Will Travel' Reboot |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cbs-david-mamet-have-gun-will-travel-364445 |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Tucker, Ken |date=2012-08-22 |title=David Mamet's 'Have Gun, Will Travel' reboot: Why it's a great idea |url=http://watching-tv.ew.com/2012/08/22/david-mamet-have-gun-will-travel-reboot |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref>
* ''Blackbird'' (2013) – Writer/director<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hopewell|first=John|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/global/cake-blanchett-david-mamet-blackbird-1200481649/|title=Cate Blanchett to Star in David Mamet's JFK Assassination Thriller 'Blackbird' (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 15, 2013|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''7 Deadly Sins'' TV miniseries (2013) – Writer/director, for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-mamet-fox-developing-7-667224/|title=David Mamet, Fox Developing '7 Deadly Sins' Miniseries|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 20, 2013|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]'' film (2016) – Writer/director<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/david-mamet-speed-the-plow-directing-movie-adaptation-hollywood-play-1201827446/|title=David Mamet To Direct Movie Adaptation Of His Hollywood Play 'Speed-The-Plow'|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 28, 2016|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
* ''The Force'' (2017) – Based on the novel, for [[James Mangold]] to direct<ref>{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/david-mamet-don-winslow-the-force-james-mangold-nypd-corrupt-cop-novel-fox-scott-free-1202116598/|title=David Mamet In Talks To Adapt Don Winslow NYPD Novel 'The Force' For James Mangold|date=June 20, 2017|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref>
* ''Assassination'' (2023) – Writer/director<ref name="Assassination"/><ref name="Assass2"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite interview | subject=David Mamet | title=David Mamet: Bambi vs. Godzilla | date=February 12, 2007 | work=The Leonard Lopate Show | interviewer=Leonard Lopate | location=New York | publisher=WNYC | url=http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2007/02/12/segments/73505 | access-date=December 23, 2008 }}
* Radavich, David. "Man among Men: David Mamet's Homosocial Order". ''American Drama'' 1:1 (Fall 1991): 46–60.
* Radavich, David. "Rabe, Mamet, Shepard, and Wilson: Mid-American Male Dramatists of the 1970s and '80s". ''The Midwest Quarterly'' XLVIII: 3 (Spring 2007): 342–58.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://norman.hrc.utexas.edu/fasearch/findingAid.cfm?eadID=00486 David Mamet Papers] at the [[Harry Ransom Center]]
* {{IMDb name|0000519}}
* {{C-SPAN|55312}}

{{David Mamet}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for David Mamet
|list1 =
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year}}
{{PulitzerPrize DramaAuthors 1976-2000}}
{{Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mamet, David}}
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