Edgar Allan Poe Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 0 (2003) Winner
Ira Levin
アイラ・マーヴィン・レヴィン
Ira Levin
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1929-08-27 （Manhattan, New York City, U.S.）
- Died
- 2007-11-12 （Manhattan, New York City, U.S.） age 78
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Jewish atheist
- Residence History
- Manhattan, New York City → The Bronx, New York City (grew up) → Des Moines, Iowa (attended Drake University)
Career
- Occupations
- novelist, playwright, songwriter
- Active Years
- 1950-2007
- Influenced
- Stephen King (praised Levin's plotting)
- Nominations
- Tony Award for Best Play (Deathtrap)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horace Mann School | — | — | — | 〜1946 | United States |
| Drake University | — | Philosophy and English literature (studies) | — | 1946–1948 | United States |
| New York University | — | Philosophy and English literature | Bachelor of Arts | 1948–1950 | United States |
Horace Mann School
Period:
〜1946
Year of Graduation:
1946
Country:
United States
Private secondary school in New York City
Drake University
Philosophy and English literature (studies)
Period:
1946–1948
Country:
United States
Attended 1946–1948; transferred to NYU.
New York University
Philosophy and English literature
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
1948–1950
Year of Graduation:
1950
Country:
United States
Majored in English literature and philosophy; graduated 1950.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Edgar Award for Best First Novel | A Kiss Before Dying | 最優秀処女作 | Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards) | 受賞 |
| 1979 | Edgar Award (play) | Deathtrap | 戯曲 | Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards) | 受賞 |
| 1992 | Prometheus Hall of Fame Award | This Perfect Day | — | Prometheus Award (Libertarian Futurist Society) | 受賞 |
| 1996 | Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement | — | 生涯功労 | Horror Writers Association (Bram Stoker Awards) | 受賞 |
Edgar Award for Best First Novel
1954
Work:
A Kiss Before Dying
Category:
最優秀処女作
Organization:
Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result:
受賞
Edgar Award (play)
1979
Work:
Deathtrap
Category:
戯曲
Organization:
Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result:
受賞
Prometheus Hall of Fame Award
1992
Work:
This Perfect Day
Organization:
Prometheus Award (Libertarian Futurist Society)
Result:
受賞
Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement
1996
Category:
生涯功労
Organization:
Horror Writers Association (Bram Stoker Awards)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
A Kiss Before Dying
1953 Crime / SuspenseA suspense novel about a young man who kills and manipulates to secure an inheritance; Levin's first acclaimed novel.
crimeambitiondeception
Adaptations
- [Film] A Kiss Before Dying / 不明 (1956)
- [Film] A Kiss Before Dying / 不明 (1991)
Rosemary's Baby
1967 HorrorA horror novel set in Manhattan about Satanism and occult conspiracies surrounding a pregnant woman, Rosemary.
occultmotherhoodconspiracy
Adaptations
- [Film] Rosemary's Baby / Roman Polanski (1968)
- [TV miniseries] Rosemary's Baby (miniseries) / 不明 (2014)
This Perfect Day
1970 Science fiction / DystopiaA science-fiction novel about a technocratic dystopia exploring individual freedom versus social control.
dystopiasocial controlfreedom
The Stepford Wives
1972 Satirical suspenseA satirical suspense novel set in a suburban community, dealing with gender roles and conformity.
gender rolessuburban cultureconformity
Adaptations
- [Film] The Stepford Wives / 不明 (1975)
- [Film] The Stepford Wives (2004) / 不明 (2004)
The Boys from Brazil
1976 Suspense / ThrillerA thriller involving a conspiracy linking Nazis and reproductive manipulation, exploring historical evil and ethics.
Nazismethicsconspiracy
Adaptations
- [Film] The Boys from Brazil / 不明 (1978)
Sliver
1991 ThrillerA thriller about urban high-tech surveillance and invasion of privacy.
surveillanceprivacyurban life
Adaptations
- [Film] Sliver / Phillip Noyce (1993)
Son of Rosemary
1997 Horror / SequelA sequel to Rosemary's Baby; published in 1997 and not developed into a film.
occultsequelfamily
Deathtrap
1978 Play / ThrillerA stage suspense-comedy that became Levin's best-known play and held a long Broadway run.
suspenseplay-within-a-playdeception
Adaptations
- [Film] Deathtrap / 不明 (1982)
Bibliography
- A Kiss Before Dying (1953)
- Rosemary's Baby (1967)
- This Perfect Day (1970)
- The Stepford Wives (1972)
- The Boys from Brazil (1976)
- Deathtrap (1978, play)
- Sliver (1991)
- Son of Rosemary (1997)
Adaptations
- Many novels and plays adapted to film and television (e.g., Rosemary's Baby; The Stepford Wives; The Boys from Brazil; Deathtrap; Sliver).
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Tight, well-crafted plotting typical of suspense novelsClear, readable narrative voice
- Recurring Motifs
- urban unease (often New York)hidden horrors beneath everyday lifedistrust of technocratic control
Health
-
heart attack2007-11-12Died of a fatal heart attack
Legacy
Ira Levin was an American writer known for his precise plotting and numerous film adaptations. He left major works in horror and suspense that significantly influenced late 20th-century popular culture.
In Popular Culture
- Rosemary's Baby influenced modern horror films and novels
- The Stepford Wives became a reference point in discussions about gender and suburban culture
Quotes
-
"I feel guilty that 'Rosemary's Baby' led to The Exorcist, The Omen. A whole generation has been exposed, has more belief in Satan. I don't believe in Satan. And I feel that the strong fundamentalism we have would not be as strong if there hadn't been so many of these books [...]"
Source: Statement in 2002 (interview) (2002)
Trivia
- Many novels and plays have been adapted for film and television.
- Praised by Stephen King for his precision in plotting.
- Of Russian-Jewish descent but identified as an atheist.