Paul Zindel Jr. was an American
playwrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
,
authorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and educator.
Early years
Zindel was born in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York to Paul Zindel,Sr., a policeman, and Beatrice Frank, a nurse; his sister, Betty (Zindel) Hagen, was a year and a half older than he. Paul Zindel, Sr. ran away with his mistress when Zindel was two, leaving the trio to move around Staten Island, living in various houses and apartments.
Through his teen years he wrote plays, though he trained as a chemist at
Wagner CollegeWagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
and spent six months working at
Allied ChemicalAllied Chemical Corporation was a major American company with operations in the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas industries. It evolved from the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation....
as a chemical writer after graduating. Zindel took a creative writing course with the playwright
Edward AlbeeEdward Franklin Albee III is an American playwright who is best known for The Zoo Story , The Sandbox , Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , and a rewrite of the screenplay for the unsuccessful musical version of Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's . His works are considered well-crafted, often...
while he was an undergraduate. He later quit and worked as a high school science teacher at
Tottenville High SchoolTottenville High School is located at 100 Luten Avenue, in Huguenot, Staten Island, New York. It is within walking distance of the Huguenot train station of the Staten Island Railway system. Tottenville H.S. is in administrative district 31. The school’s current principal is John P. Tuminaro...
on Staten.
Career
In 1964, he wrote
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon MarigoldsThe Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a 1964 play written by Paul Zindel, a playwright and science teacher. Zindel received the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for the work. The play's world premiere was staged in 1964 at the Alley Theatre...
, his first and most successful play. The play ran off-Broadway in 1970, and on Broadway in 1971, and he received the 1971
Pulitzer Prize for DramaThe Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than the calendar year...
for the work. It was also made into a 1972 movie by 20th Century Fox. Soon thereafter,
Charlotte ZolotowCharlotte Zolotow is an American author, poet, editor, and publisher of many books for children ....
, a vice-president at Harper & Row, contacted him about writing for her book label.
Zindel wrote a total of 39 books, all of them aimed at children or young adults. Many were set in his home town of Staten Island, New York. They tended to be semi-autobiographical, focusing on teenage misfits with abusive or neglectful parents. Zindel himself grew up in a single-parent household; his mother worked at various occupations: hat check girl, shipyard worker, dog breeder, hot dog vendor, and finally licensed practical nurse, often boarding terminally ill patients at home. They moved frequently, and his mother often engaged in "get-rich-quick" schemes that did not succeed. His father abandoned them. This upbringing was most closely depicted in
Confessions of a Teenage BaboonConfessions of a Teenage Baboon is a young adult novel by Paul Zindel, published in 1977.-Plot:Chris Boyd, at fiften, is an only child. The story is told from Chris' point of view as the son of Helen, his mother who works as a live-in practical nurse...
.
Despite the often dark subject matter of his books, which deal with loneliness, loss, and the effects of abuse, they are also filled with humor. Many of his novels have wacky titles, such as
My Darling, My HamburgerMy Darling, My Hamburger is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1969.-Plot summary:Nerdy Maggie Tobin is convinced by her best friend, Liz Carstensen, to go on a date with Dennis Holowitz, a weird and equally nerdy boy. During their second double-date, Liz and Sean go...
, or
Confessions of A Teenage BaboonConfessions of a Teenage Baboon is a young adult novel by Paul Zindel, published in 1977.-Plot:Chris Boyd, at fiften, is an only child. The story is told from Chris' point of view as the son of Helen, his mother who works as a live-in practical nurse...
.
The PigmanThe Pigman is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1968. Zindel wrote a screenplay, adapting the book for the stage and screen, but it was not taken up by any film maker.-Plot:...
, first published in 1968, is widely taught in American schools, and also made it on to the list of most frequently banned books in America in the 1990s, because of what some deem offensive language.
Personal life
Zindel was married to Bonnie Hildebrand from 1973, divorcing her in 1998. They had two children; novelist and actor Lizabeth Zindel, and son David, a filmmaker. Paul Zindel died in New York City from lung cancer in 2003, at the Jacob Perlow Hospice in Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He is buried Moravian Cemetery, in
Staten IslandStaten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Plays
- The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a 1964 play written by Paul Zindel, a playwright and science teacher. Zindel received the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for the work. The play's world premiere was staged in 1964 at the Alley Theatre...
, 1965.
- Let Me Hear You Whisper
- The Ladies Should Be In Bed
- And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little
And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little is an American play written by Paul Zindel and published by Dramatists Play Service.The story surrounds three sisters: Catherine, an alcoholic; Anna, a hypochondriac and Ceil, an attention-starved socialite.-History:...
, 1967
- The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, 1972
- Every 17 Minutes the Crowd Goes Crazy
- Ladies At The Alamo, 1977
- Amulets Against the Dragon Forces
Amulets Against the Dragon Forces is a play by Paul Zindel. The play focuses on Chris Boyd, a teenager whose mother cares for the dying. It is set in 1950s Staten Island....
, 1999
Novels
- The Pigman
The Pigman is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1968. Zindel wrote a screenplay, adapting the book for the stage and screen, but it was not taken up by any film maker.-Plot:...
, New York: Harper, 1968.
- My Darling, My Hamburger
My Darling, My Hamburger is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1969.-Plot summary:Nerdy Maggie Tobin is convinced by her best friend, Liz Carstensen, to go on a date with Dennis Holowitz, a weird and equally nerdy boy. During their second double-date, Liz and Sean go...
, New York: Harper, 1969.
- I Never Loved Your Mind, New York: Harper, 1970.
- I Love My Mother, New York: Harper, 1975.
- Pardon Me, You're Stepping on My Eyeball!
Pardon Me, You’re Stepping on My Eyeball! is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1976.-Plot summary:The novel follows two alienated teenagers in Staten Island, 15-year-old Louis "Marsh" Mellow and Edna Shinglebox, as they cope with their family issues...
, New York: Harper, 1976.
- Confessions of a Teenage Baboon
Confessions of a Teenage Baboon is a young adult novel by Paul Zindel, published in 1977.-Plot:Chris Boyd, at fiften, is an only child. The story is told from Chris' point of view as the son of Helen, his mother who works as a live-in practical nurse...
, New York: Harper, 1977.
- The Undertaker's Gone Bananas, New York: Harper, 1978.
- A Star for the Latecomer (with Bonnie Zindel), New York: Harper, 1980.
- The Pigman's Legacy
The Pigman's Legacy is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, first published in 1980. The book is a sequel to The Pigman following the lives of John and Lorraine shortly after The Pigman's death at the end of the first story and how they quickly make up for it.-Plot summary:Just like the...
, New York: Harper, 1980.
- The Girl Who Wanted a Boy, New York: Harper, 1981.
- To Take a Dare (with Crescent Dragonwagon
Crescent Dragonwagon is an author, writer, teacher, and performer. She has written two novels, several cookbooks, and one book of poetry....
), New York: Harper, 1982.
- Harry and Hortense at Hormone High, New York: Harper, 1985.
- The Amazing and Death-Defying Diary of Eugene Dingman, New York: Harper, 1987.
- A Begonia for Miss Applebaum, New York: Harper, 1989.
- The Pigman and Me, New York: HarperCollins, 1992.
- Attack of the Killer Fishsticks, New York: Bantam, 1993.
- Fifth Grade Safari, New York: Bantam, 1992.
- Fright Party, New York: Bantam, 1993.
- David & Della, New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
- One Hundred Percent Laugh Riot, New York: Bantam, 1994.
- Loch, New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
- The Doom Stone, New York: HarperCollins, 1995.
- Raptor, New York: Hyperion, 1998.
- Reef of Death
Reef of Death is a 1998 young adult novel by Paul Zindel published by HarperCollins and Hyperion. Set in Australia, it is an adventure story with elements of horror.- Plot summary :...
, New York: HarperCollins, 1998.
- Rats, New York: Hyperion, 1999.
- The Gadget, New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
- Night of the Bat, New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- The Scream Museum, New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- The Surfing Corpse, New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- The E-Mail Murders, New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- The Lethal Gorilla, New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- The Square Root of Murder, 2002.
- Death on the Amazon, 2002.
- The Gourmet Zombie, 2002.
- The Phantom of 86th Street, 2002.
- The Houdini Whodunit, 2002.
- Death by CD, 2003.
- The Petrified Parrot, 2003.
- Camp Megadeath, 2003.
Screenplays
• Let Me Hear You Whisper - 1969 television movie based on his play.
•
MameMame is a 1974 musical film based on the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name, directed by Gene Saks, written by Paul Zindel, and starring Lucille Ball and Beatrice Arthur.Warner Bros...
- 1974 musical film starring
Lucille BallLucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
, based on the stage musical.
•
Up the SandboxUp The Sandbox is a 1972 American comedy film directed by Irvin Kershner.Paul Zindel's screenplay, based on the novel by Anne Roiphe, focuses on Margaret Reynolds, a young New York City wife and mother who, neglected by her husband and bored with her daily existence, slips into increasingly bizarre...
- 1972 movie with
Barbra StreisandBarbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
and
David SelbyDavid Lynn Selby is an American character and stage actor. He has worked in movies, soap operas and television. The naturally black-headed Selby is best known for playing the roles of Quentin Collins on the ABC-TV serial, Dark Shadows , and as the evil and compassionate...
.
• Maria's Lovers - 1984 film, with
Nastassja KinskiNastassja Kinski is a German-born American-based actress who has appeared in more than 60 films. Her starring roles include her Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of the title character in Tess and her roles in two erotic films , as well as parts in Wim Wenders' films The Wrong Move; Paris,...
,
John SavageJohn Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
and
Robert MitchumRobert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
.
•
Runaway TrainRunaway Train is a 1985 film about two escaped convicts and a female train worker who are stuck on a runaway train as it barrels through snowy desolate Alaska. It stars Jon Voight as Oscar "Manny" Manheim, Eric Roberts as Buck, John P. Ryan as Associate Warden Ranken and Rebecca De Mornay as Sara...
- 1985 film starring John Voight,
Eric RobertsEric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
, and
Rebecca De MornayRebecca De Mornay is an American film and television actress. Her breakthrough film role came in 1983, when she played Lana in Risky Business opposite Tom Cruise...
; nominated for three Academy Awards.
•
Babes in ToylandBabes in Toyland is a 1986 television film directed by Clive Donner which stars Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves. It was broadcast on NBC on December 19, 1986 and subsequently released on VHS. The European theatrical version was shortened to 94 minutes—this version was released worldwide on...
- 1986 television adaptation of the film, starring
Keanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
and
Drew BarrymoreDrew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
.
• Alice in Wonderland - 1985 television movie, with an all-star cast.
•
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is an 1889 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled A Yankee in King Arthur's Court...
- 1989 television adaptation of the novel by
Mark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
.
External links