Hugh Leonard

Hugh Leonard was the pen name of the author, playwright and essayist Jack Keyes. Born and raised in Dublin, Leonard worked as a civil servant before turning to a full-time writing career which spanned five decades. His works include his autobiographical volumes Home Before Night (1979) and Out After Dark (1989), a historical novel, Parnell and the English Woman (1992), as well as over thirty stage plays, essays, and screenplays. His most famous play, Da, was awarded a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and New York Critics' Circle Award for Best Play in 1978. Having lived most of his life in Dalkey, County Dublin, Leonard died in 2009 at the age of 82.