Acclaimed American playwright, actor, writer, and director Sam Shepard has passed away at the age of 73.
Born Samuel Shepard Rogers III on November 5, 1943 in Fort Sheridan, Illinois, Shepard was raised by his father, Samuel Shepard Rogers, Jr. – who was a teacher, farmer, and United States Army Force bomber pilot who served in World War II – and mother, Jane Elaine – a teacher and native of Chicago.
Later in life, Shepard made a name for himself as the writer of forty-four plays and several books, including short stories, essays, and memoirs.
Shepard was also well known for his work on the big screen, and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his turn in the 1983 historical drama, The Right Stuff.