TheFamousPeople

Discover the American female playwrights who have made significant contribution to their field. This list is loosely sorted by popularity and includes many great American female playwrights, such as Danai Gurira, Nora Ephron, Roxann Dawson, Charlayne Woodard and Joyce Carol Oates.

American Female Playwrights

Carrie FisherCarrie Fisher
21 October 1956, American
 
Danai GuriraDanai Gurira
14 February 1978, American, Zimbabwean
Actress

Nora EphronNora Ephron
19 May 1941, American
Screenwriter, Producer, Director

Roxann DawsonRoxann Dawson
11 September 1958, American
Actress

Yolanda KingYolanda King
17 November 1955, American
Activist

Joyce Carol OatesJoyce Carol Oates
16 June 1938, American
Writer
Charlayne WoodardCharlayne Woodard
29 December 1953, American
Actress

Frances Hodgson BurnettFrances Hodgson Burnett
24 November 1849, British, American
Novelist

Lillian HellmanLillian Hellman
20 June 1905, American
Dramatist and Screenwriter
Patrisse CullorsPatrisse Cullors
20 June 1983, American
Artist

Marilyn vos SavantMarilyn vos Savant
11 August 1946, American
Columnist
Zoe KazanZoe Kazan
09 September 1983, British, American
Actress

Gypsy Rose LeeGypsy Rose Lee
08 January 1911, American
Entertainer

Elaine MayElaine May
21 April 1932, American
Actor, Film director, Screenwriter, Stage actor,

Carrie HamiltonCarrie Hamilton
05 December 1963, American
Actress

Amanda PalmerAmanda Palmer
30 April 1976, American
Singer, Street artist, Composer, Pianist,
Ruby DeeRuby Dee
27 October 1922, American
Actress

Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry
19 May 1930, American
Writer, Theatre director, Screenwriter,

Patricia WettigPatricia Wettig
04 December 1951, American
Actor, Playwright, Stage actor, Television actor

Tovah FeldshuhTovah Feldshuh
27 December 1952, American
Television actor, Film actor, Writer, Playwright,
Anna Deavere SmithAnna Deavere Smith
18 September 1950, American
Stage actor, Film actor, Television actor, Writer,

Suzan-Lori ParksSuzan-Lori Parks
10 May 1963, American
American playwright
Clare Boothe LuceClare Boothe Luce
10 March 1903, American
Former U.S. Congressman, Diplomat, Journalist,

Natalie Clifford BarneyNatalie Clifford Barney
31 October 1876, American
Playwright

Eve EnslerEve Ensler
25 May 1953, American
Artist, Actor, Playwright, Autobiographer, Writer,
Kathy AckerKathy Acker
18 April 1947, American
Author

Zhang AilingZhang Ailing
30 September 1920, Chinese, American
Writer
Ntozake ShangeNtozake Shange
18 October 1948, American
Playwright

Leslye HeadlandLeslye Headland
1981 AD, American
film director, screenwriter, playwright

Shirley Graham Du BoisShirley Graham Du Bois
11 November 1896, Ghanaian, American
Author
Susan GlaspellSusan Glaspell
01 July 1876, American
Playwright

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Betty ComdenBetty Comden
03 May 1917, American
Screenwriter, Librettist, Performer, Stage actor,
Mabel Dodge LuhanMabel Dodge Luhan
26 February 1879, American
Biographer

Wendy WassersteinWendy Wasserstein
18 October 1950, American
Playwright

Jane BowlesJane Bowles
22 February 1917, American
Writer

Annie BakerAnnie Baker
31 March 1981, American
screenwriter, author, writer
Maria Irene FornésMaria Irene Fornés
14 May 1930, American
Dramatist
Gerda LernerGerda Lerner
30 April 1920, American
Historian

Jean WebsterJean Webster
24 July 1876, American
Writer

Mina LoyMina Loy
27 December 1882, British, American
Poet

Diane di PrimaDiane di Prima
06 August 1934, American
Poet
Sarah RuhlSarah Ruhl
1974 AD, American
playwright

Michael StrangeMichael Strange
01 October 1890, American
Poet

Angelina Weld GrimkéAngelina Weld Grimké
27 February 1880, American
Journalist

Linda HoganLinda Hogan
16 July 1947, American
Poet

Beth HenleyBeth Henley
08 May 1952, American
Playwright
Jay Presson AllenJay Presson Allen
03 March 1922, American
Screenwriter

Alice ChildressAlice Childress
12 October 1912, American
American playwright
Jean KerrJean Kerr
10 July 1922, American
Author

Santha Rama RauSantha Rama Rau
24 January 1923, Indian, American
Writer

Ana CastilloAna Castillo
15 June 1953, American
Novelist
Judith Sargent Stevens MurrayJudith Sargent Stevens Murray
01 May 1751, American
Advocate

Pauline HopkinsPauline Hopkins
1859 AD, American
Novelist
Mary ZimmermanMary Zimmerman
23 August 1960, American
Theatre Director

Vinnette Justine CarrollVinnette Justine Carroll
11 March 1922, American
Playwright

Ruth DraperRuth Draper
02 December 1884, American
Actress

May SwensonMay Swenson
28 May 1913, American
Poet

Susanna RowsonSusanna Rowson
1762 AD, British, American
Novelist
Minnie Maddern FiskeMinnie Maddern Fiske
19 December 1865, American
Actress

Zona GaleZona Gale
26 August 1874, American
Novelist

Louise Closser HaleLouise Closser Hale
13 October 1872, American
Actress

Mari EvansMari Evans
16 July 1923, American
Poet
Frederica Sagor MaasFrederica Sagor Maas
06 July 1900, American
Screenwriter, Playwright, Journalist,

Jane CowlJane Cowl
14 December 1883, American
Film Actress
Delia BaconDelia Bacon
02 February 1811, American
Writer

Regina M. AndersonRegina M. Anderson
21 May 1901, American
Playwright

Juli CrockettJuli Crockett
01 August 1975, American
Playwright
Fay KaninFay Kanin
09 May 1917, American
Playwright and screenwriter

Josephine Preston PeabodyJosephine Preston Peabody
30 May 1874, American
Poet
Rachel CrothersRachel Crothers
12 December 1878, American
Playwright

Anna Cora MowattAnna Cora Mowatt
05 March 1819, French, American
Author

May MillerMay Miller
26 January 1899, American
Poet
Alice BrownAlice Brown
05 December 1857, American
Novelist

Ruth GoetzRuth Goetz
12 January 1912, American
Playwright
Endesha Ida Mae HollandEndesha Ida Mae Holland
29 August 1944, American
Scholar

Hildegarde FlannerHildegarde Flanner
03 June 1899, American
Poet

Karen SundeKaren Sunde
18 July 1942, American