Renowned playwright August Wilson (1945–2005) is best known for his series of 10 plays chronicling the experiences and heritage of America’s Black community across each decade of the 20th century. Collectively called The American Century Cycle, the series includes Fences and The Piano Lesson, which both won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Fences also garnered the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play.

Wilson, who was born Frederick August Kittel in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, had “a fierce affection” for the neighborhood in which he was raised. His feelings ran so deep that “the Hill” serves as the setting for all but one of the plays in his famous cycle. Against that backdrop so familiar to him, Wilson’s work explores themes of race, identity, and history.

Three of his plays have been adapted to films: Fences (2016), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), and The Piano Lesson (2024).

Through his powerful storytelling and commitment to portraying Black lives with dignity and complexity, Wilson reshaped modern drama and left a lasting cultural legacy. He is widely regarded as one of the great playwrights in American history.