Wendy Wasserstein

Wendy Wasserstein (October 18, 1950 – January 30, 2006) was an American playwright known for her contributions to the theater industry. She achieved great recognition and success, receiving the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989 for her play The Heidi Chronicles. Born into a wealthy Jewish family in Brooklyn, Wasserstein was the youngest of five siblings, including her brother Bruce Wasserstein, a prominent investment banker. Her mother, Lola Wasserstein, served as an inspiration for some of her characters. Aside from her achievements in playwriting, Wasserstein also held a position as an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.