Damon Runyon

December 2023

DAMON RUNYON (Story and Characters), born in New York City in 1880, was an American short-story writer, journalist, and humorist. He was the archetype of the tough, hardnosed street reporter who fraternized socially with gangsters and hoodlums. He began in the newspaper business as a child and went on to cover news, sports, politics, and crime during his time in the business. He also published verses and short stories in national publications such as Harper’s Weekly and McClure’s.

He wrote his first book in 1911, a collection of poems entitled The Tents, and began covering World War I soon thereafter. By the 1920s, Mr. Runyon had developed his own distinct style as a prolific author, and in the late 1930s, he began writing and producing movies in Hollywood. Mr. Runyon’s works served as the basis for 29 feature films, including Lady for a Day directed by Frank Capra (1933), Little Miss Marker starring Shirley Temple (1934), The Lemon Drop Kid starring Bob Hope (1951), and Pocket Full of Miracles with Bette Davis (1961).

In all, Mr. Runyon’s literary legacy includes over 700 stories, novellas, plays, articles, essays, and poems. Among his best-known works is Guys and Dolls, which was adapted for the stage in 1950 as a musical on Broadway, where it ran 1,200 performances. It was then brought to film in 1955 starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Vivian Blaine, and Jean Simmons. The musical has been staged in over 25 countries and is performed over 3,000 times annually in high schools, universities, and community and regional theatres, making it one of the most produced musicals of all time.