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Obituaries | Dennis Letts: 1934 - 2008 Actor's dream came true in his son's play Despite cancer, Broadway show went on for Chicago author's dad By Chris Jones Tribune reporter February 25, 2008 NEW YORK Dennis Letts, 73, the father of Chicago playwright Tracy Letts and a college professor who enjoyed Broadway acclaim in the final months of his life, died of cancer Friday, Feb. 22, in Tulsa, his son said. Until his last few days, Dennis Letts was appearing on Broadway in his son's critically acclaimed drama, "August: Osage County," a production of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Last summer in Chicago, Mr. Letts originated the role of Beverly Weston, a college professor and avuncular patriarch who was based, in part, on himself. Mr. Letts was a professor of literature and writing for most of his career, which was spent mostly at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. But few retired professors get to appear on Broadway in their son's hit play -- an unusual state of familial affairs that Mr. Letts, who began acting at age 50 and moved from community theaters to the Great White Way, clearly relished. "That cast really loved Dennis," Martha Lavey, the artistic director of the Steppenwolf, said Sunday. "It was wonderful that he was able to do such a role at that point in his life." Steve Traxler, a producer of the Broadway show, called Mr. Letts' death "very sad news." In a statement, Tracy Letts said that his father had been diagnosed with lung cancer in September, after the Chicago run of the play but before its move to New York. "His choice to persevere with the New York production in the face of his devastating diagnosis is a testament to his love for the project and the people involved," Letts said. "Dad had a full and fascinating life, and 'August: Osage County' was the cherry on top." Mr. Letts also is survived by his wife, Billie; and two other sons, Dana and Shawn; and a brother, Ray Don. A service for Letts will be held Thursday in Oklahoma. ---------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
