Samuel D. Hunter (USA)
Authors / Theater
Samuel D. Hunter is a critically acclaimed and multi-award winning playwright and author for Film/TV. Originally from Moscow, Idaho, he lives and works in New York City. He is best known for his plays A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, which won the 2011 Obie Award for playwriting, and THE WHALE, which won the 2013 Drama Desk Award and the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.
In 2022, Hunter’s film adaptation of THE WHALE directed by Darren Aronofsky, brought him international recognition. Starring Brendan Fraser as Charlie, the film was nominated for Academy Awards in three categories, winning Best Leading Actor and Best Makeup.
Samuel D. Hunter is a member of New Dramatists, an Ensemble Playwright at Victory Gardens, was a 2013 Resident Playwright at Arena Stage. His other plays are THE FEW, A GREAT WILDERNESS, REST, POCATELLO, THE HEALING, THE HARVEST, LEWINSTON/CLARKSTOM, and most recently, GREATER CLEMENTS.
On the TV side, Hunter has been writing on the FX series BASKETS, starring Zach Galifianakis and Executive Produced by Louis CK and Jon Krisel and adapting the award winning podcast S-TOWN, with Tom McCarthy attached to direct.
AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS (selection):
2014 – MacArthur Fellowship
2013 – Resident Playwright at Arena Stage
2013 – Drama Desk Award for THE WHALE
2013 – Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play for THE WHALE
2011 – Obie Drama Award for A BRIGHT NEW BOISE
Works (selection)
THE WHALE
2012
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Charlie is in his mid-40s and teaches English literature to college students. Exclusively online, with the camera switched off. Charlie is very overweight.
He lives in isolation and has long since lost touch with his 17-year-old daughter Ellie, who is difficult to raise, and his ex-wife.
Charlie’s interaction with the outside world is limited to home visits from his nurse friend Liz, who finds Charlie’s physical decline difficult to bear, and from the young missionary Elder Thomas.
When the consequences of the illness become life-threatening, Charlie finally makes contact with Ellie.