Patrick, Robert, 1937-

Playwright and novelist Robert Patrick, whose plays include KENNEDY'S CHILDREN, THE HAUNTED HOST, and MIRAGE, and whose novels include TEMPLE SLAVE, was for many years a close friend and correspondent of Quentin Crisp (1908-1999), British wit, author, and performer, who spent the last twenty years of his life in New York City.

Robert Patrick, a founding father of the off-off Broadway scene and major contributor to the growth of gay theater, was born Robert Patrick O'Connor on August 27, 1937 in Kilgore, Texas.

He came to New York City in 1961, and was soon presenting his work at Caffe Cino, a coffee house that was also a pioneering off-off Broadway theater. Patrick's first play, The Haunted Host, proved to be a breakthrough in gay theater. Over the next ten years his plays were produced over 130 times in a variety of underground theaters (like La Mama and the Old Reliable Theatre Tavern). In 1973 Patrick was nominated for a record five Obies. The same year, the Clark Center mounted the first production of Kennedy's Children. In 1974 this play began a two-week run at the King's Head Pub Theatre in Islington, England which was extended several times and eventually moved to a theater in London's West End. International productions quickly followed, including one on Broadway at the Golden Theatre. Throughout the 1970s and into 1980s Patrick continued to write at a feverish pace, while simultaneously traveling to see his works produced. He often gave guest lectures, directed, or in other ways personally helped with productions around the world.

From 1979 to 1982 Patrick wrote a regular column about off-off Broadway for the theatrical paper Other Stages. In 1990 he directed his last play in New York, Hello, Bob, about his experiences with Kennedy's Children. Patrick settled in California in 1993. In 1994 he published Temple Slave about the origins of off-off Broadway. Patrick received the Robert Chesley Award for Lifetime Achievement in Gay Theatre in 1997. He continues to write and is living in Los Angeles.

Robert Patrick was a founding father of the off-off Broadway scene; it's most produced and most prolific playwright. He was also a contributor to the growth of gay theater. Patrick is now best known for his play Kennedy's Children .

Robert Patrick was born Robert Patrick O'Connor on September 27, 1937 in Kilgore, Texas. He came to New York City in 1961, and was soon a part Caffe Cino, the legendary off-off Broadway theater. Caffe Cino produced Patrick's first play, The Haunted Host, which also proved to be a breakthrough in gay theater. Over the next ten years his career blossomed with anywhere from 130 to 300 productions of his scripts occurring in a variety of underground theaters (like La Mama or the Old Reliable Theatre Tavern). In 1973 Patrick was nominated for a record five Obies.

The same year, the Clark Center mounted the first production of Kennedy's Children . An actor from the show, Don Parker, optioned the play. By 1974 it was beginning a two-week run in the King's Head Pub Theatre in Islington, England. The show was so successful that after eventually extending its run many times, it eventually moved to a theater in London's West End. International productions quickly followed, including one on Broadway at the Golden Theatre.

Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s Patrick continued to write at his usual feverish pace, while simultaneously traveling to see his works produced. He often gave guest lectures, directed, or in other ways personally helped with productions all around the world. From 1979 to 1982 Patrick wrote a regular column about off-off Broadway for the theatrical paper Other Stages .

In 1990 he directed his last play in New York, Hello, Bob, about his worldwide experiences with Kennedy’s Children . After three years of travel, writing and directing cross-country, Patrick settled in Los Angeles and began ghostwriting for television and films. In 1994 he published Temple Slave, a novel about the origins of off-off Broadway. Patrick received the Robert Chesley Award for Lifetime Achievement in Gay Theatre in 1997. He continues to write and is living in Los Angeles, “strictly for the sunshine”.