As the latter, he originated the critically successful role of Beverly Weston in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of the Tony-winning play August: Osage County in the summer of 2007, the writing of which had earned his son, Tracy Letts, a Pulitzer Prize.
[2] Letts married his wife, novelist Billie Gipson, in 1958; the couple had three sons: Dana, Tracy (a playwright), and Shawn (a jazz musician/composer).
[2] His acting credits also included his debut in Bloodsuckers from Outer Space, a science fiction comedy film written and directed by Glen Coburn, Where the Heart Is, a film based on a novel written by his wife, Billie Letts.
He served as an editor for his wife's novels,[1] which won various literary awards and have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.
[1] Despite his diagnosis, he chose to remain with the August: Osage County production as the show moved to New York City.
[1] He continued performing eight shows a week of August: Osage County in New York City until February 2008.