Cornell Woolrich(1903-1968)
- Writer
Prolific mystery writer Cornell Woolrich was born in New York City, but
his parents separated when he was young and he spent much of his
childhood in Latin America with his father. Then he was sent back to
New York to live with his rich, domineering mother, Claire. He attended
Columbia University where he wrote his first novel, a Jazz Age piece
published in 1926 titled "Cover Charge". Another book, "Children of the
Ritz", followed in 1927. Hollywood beckoned but his time there as an
(uncredited) screenwriter proved to be unhappy. A disastrous marriage
to a producer's daughter failed quickly and he headed back to New York
-- and Claire. He found his niche writing suspense stories for
magazines such as "Argosy", "Black Mask" and "Thrilling Mystery". Sales
were made to Hollywood, his reputation grew, and his bank account
increased. Some called him "the Poe of the 20th century". Then his
mother sank into a lengthy illness and his output fell as he devoted
more and more of his time to her care. By the time she died in 1957, he
was "burned out". From then until his death in 1968, he lived a lonely
life marked by alcoholism and poor health (he delayed visiting a doctor
when his leg started bothering him; he eventually lost it to gangrene).
When he died his funeral went unattended.
He bequeathed money to Columbia to set up a creative writing course which was not named after him but after who else?-Claire.
He bequeathed money to Columbia to set up a creative writing course which was not named after him but after who else?-Claire.