14 Facts About Zoe Akins

Zoe Byrd Akins was an American playwright, poet, and author.

Zoe Akins won the 1935 Pulitzer Prize for drama for The Old Maid.

Zoe Byrd Akins was born in Humansville, Missouri, second of three children of Thomas Jasper and Sarah Elizabeth Green Akins.

Zoe Akins's family was heavily involved with the Missouri Republican Party, and for several years her father served as the state party chairman.

Zoe Akins's family moved to St Louis, Missouri when Akins was in her early teens.

Zoe Akins was sent to Monticello Seminary in Godfrey, Illinois for her education and later Hosmer Hall preparatory school in St Louis.

Zoe Akins followed up with two other plays, The Magical City and Declassee.

In 1930, Zoe Akins had another great success with her play, The Greeks Had a Word for It, a comedy about three models in search of rich husbands.

Zoe Akins did not pursue a screenwriting career beyond her early successes.

Zoe Akins was rumored to be in a long-term relationship with Jobyna Howland until Howland's death in 1936.

Zoe Akins lived for a short time in Morrisonville, Illinois.

In 1936, Zoe Akins co-wrote the screenplay for Camille, adapted from Alexandre Dumas's play and novel, La dame aux camelias The film starred Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, and Lionel Barrymore, and earned Garbo her third Oscar nomination.

Zoe Akins died in her sleep on the eve of her 72nd birthday, in 1958, in Los Angeles.

Zoe Akins archives is held in the collection of the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.