He was born in Elyria, Ohio.
He attended Northwestern University and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Works Look, Ma, I'm Dancin' - 1948 (book of musical) Inherit the Wind - 1955 (play) Shangri-La - 1956 (book & lyrics of musical) Auntie Mame - 1956 (play) The Gang's All Here - 1959 (play) Only in America - 1959 - (play) A Call on Kuprin - 1961 - (play) Mame - 1966 - (book of musical based on his play Auntie Mame) Dear World - 1969 (book of musical) The Incomparable Max - 1971 (play) First Monday in October - 1978 - (play)