Dennis Letts was an American college professor, and later, in a second career, an actor.
18 Facts About Dennis Letts
1.
2.
Dennis Letts was born in Oklahoma City on September 5,1934.
3.
Dennis Letts enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduation, where he served until 1956.
4.
Dennis Letts went on to earn his master's degree from the University of Tulsa and his doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
5.
Dennis Letts married his wife, novelist Billie Gipson, in 1958; the couple had three sons: Dana, Tracy, and Shawn.
6.
Dennis Letts spent much of his professional career as a writing and English professor.
7.
Dennis Letts taught for more than thirty years, mostly as a faculty member at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma.
8.
Dennis Letts first began acting at the relatively late age of 50 years.
9.
Dennis Letts first started performing at university and community theaters while still working as a college professor.
10.
Dennis Letts began acting as a full second career after retiring from teaching.
11.
Dennis Letts appeared in more than 40 films and television shows over the course of his career, including parts in high-profile films such as Cast Away in 2000.
12.
Dennis Letts's acting credits included his debut in Bloodsuckers from Outer Space, a science fiction comedy film written and directed by Glen Coburn, Where the Heart Is, a film based on a novel written by his wife, Billie Letts.
13.
Dennis Letts served as an editor for his wife's novels, which won various literary awards and have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.
14.
Dennis Letts's character is described as an "Oklahoma patriarch" whose mysterious disappearance reunites his dysfunctional family.
15.
Dennis Letts continued performing eight shows a week of August: Osage County in New York City until February 2008.
16.
Dennis Letts kept up his schedule despite his illness and its treatment.
17.
Dennis Letts died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 22,2008, at the age of 73.
18.
Dennis Letts was survived by his wife, Billie, and sons, Tracy, Dana and Shawn.