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Avery Hopwood
1882–1928
A major force in early 20th-century Broadway comedy, this American playwright was known for fast-moving farces and hit plays that packed theaters. He also left a lasting mark beyond the stage through a literary prize that helped support new writers.
1 Audiobook
The Bat
by Stephen Vincent Benét, Avery Hopwood, Mary Roberts Rinehart
About the author
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1882, Avery Hopwood became one of Broadway's most successful playwrights in the 1910s and 1920s. He studied at the University of Michigan and went on to write or co-write a long list of popular stage comedies and farces, including Nobody's Widow, Fair and Warmer, and The Bat, a mystery thriller that proved especially influential.
Hopwood had a strong instinct for what theater audiences enjoyed, and his plays were known for their energy, comic timing, and commercial appeal. At the height of his career he was one of the best-paid writers in American theater.
He died in France in 1928 at the age of 46. He is also remembered for the Avery Hopwood Awards at the University of Michigan, created from his estate to encourage student writers and help launch new literary careers.