Zoe Akins (born October 30, 1886; died October 29, 1958) was an American playwright. Born in Humansville, Missouri, Akins was educated in Illinois, and later in St. Louis, where she began her writing career. While living in the city, she wrote poetry and criticism for various magazines and newspapers. October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... 1886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) Events January 18 _ Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Humansville is a city located in Polk County, Missouri. ... Missouri, named after the Missouri Siouan Indian tribe meaning canoe, is a Midwestern state of the United States with Jefferson City as its capital. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ...

Her first major dramatic work was "Papa," written in 1914. The comedy ultimately failed when produced, but she continued to write. She followed early failure with "The Magical City" and "Declassee," two plays that were moderately successful. Akins endured a dry spell throughout the 1920s. During this time several of her early plays were adapted for the screen. These adaptations were mostly failures, released as silent films in a time when the industry was transitioning to sound. While some "talkie" stars had notable roles in the films (Walter Pidgeon and a young Clark Gable), most of the films are now believed to be lost. Eventually, Akins found a small measure of fame with the play, "The Greeks Had a Word For It," produced in 1929. The play about gold-digging women and the men they fool became the young playwright's first notable production. Walter Pidgeon (September 23, 1897 – September 25, 1984) was a Canadian actor. ... William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, and the biggest box-office star of the early sound film era. ...

In the early 1930s, Akins became more active in films, writing several screenplays as well as licensing minor adaptations of her work (such as "The Greeks Had a Word for It," which was adapted twice, in 1932 and 1938 as "Three Blind Mice" - neither was a hit). Two highlights of this period are the films Sarah and Son and Morning Glory. While both films earned their respective female leads (Ruth Chatterton and Katherine Hepburn) Academy Award nominations, neither was enough to launch Akins' career. Sarah and Son is a 1930 film which tells the story of a woman who searches for the son that her abusive husband sold to a wealthy family. ... Categories: Stub | Flowers ... Ruth Chatterton (December 24, 1893 - November 24, 1961) was an American actress. ... Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003) was a notable American film and stage actress. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ...

Finally, Akins received the recognition she deserved. In 1935, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her dramatization of Edith Wharton's "The Old Maid," a melodrama set during the Civil War. A film version of The Old Maid followed in 1939, starring Bette Davis. Akins also adapted the Alexander Dumas epic, Camille, which became a film in 1936. The film starred Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, and Lionel Barrymore, and earned Garbo her third Oscar nomination. The Pulitzer Prize is a United States award regarded as the highest honor in print journalism. ... Ruth Elizabeth Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989), better known as Bette Davis, was an Academy Award winning American actress. ... Camille is the name of several films based on the 1852 novel and play La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. ... Garbo in the 1920s Greta Garbo (September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish actress. ... There are many people known as Robert Taylor, including: Robert Taylor (actor) Robert Taylor (aviation artist) Robert Taylor (composer) Robert Taylor (computer scientist) Sir Robert Taylor (architect) Robert Taylor (athlete) Robert Taylor (UK politician) Robert Love Taylor (US politician) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other... Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 - November 15, 1954), original name: Lionel Blythe, was an American actor of stage, radio and film, elder brother of Ethel and John Barrymore. ...

Despite the fame afforded her, Akins didn't pursue a screenwriting career beyond her early successes. In 1932, she married Hugo Rumbold, and after several Hollywood films, she returned to writing plays and spending time with her family.

To Akins' surprise, she was thrust into notoriety again in 1953, when Jean Negulesco directed an adaptation of "The Greeks Had a Word for It." The film, titled How to Marry a Millionaire, became a box office sensation and helped launch the career of its star, Marilyn Monroe. Monroe's role in the Akins' play helped the rising star become a cultural icon, and encouraged Akins to pursue a short stint as a writer for several television variety programs. Jean Negulesco (b. ... How to Marry a Millionaire is a 1953 film, directed by Jean Negulesco, starring Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Grable about three women, searching for wealthy husbands, who decide to share an apartment in New York. ... Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American actress of the 20th century. ...

On October 29th, 1958, on the eve of Akins' seventy-second birthday, the playwright died in her sleep.