His father was a baker-- a German immigrant-- and his mother was an African American cleaning woman.
Learned to read at age 4
1951
Connelly Vocational School disappoints
1959
Wilson was the only African American student, and felt unchallenged and isolated.
Drops out of high school
1960
After his teacher accused him of stealing a 20 pg paper on Napoleon, Wilson left school. He hid his decision from his mother, fearing her disappointment.
Joins army
1962
Wilson committed for three years.
Leaves army early
1963
Wilson left the army, and returned to Pittsburgh to do odd jobs.
Father dies
1965
Instead of his father's surname, Wilson began using his mother's maiden name- -the one he would go on to write under.
Founded Black Horizon Theater
1968
Their first play was called "Recycling."
Married Brenda Burton
1969
Wilson converted to Islam in order to sustain his marriage to her.
Moves to St. Paul, Minnesota
1978
At the urging of a director friend, Claud Purdy, who tipped him off to a job writing educational scripts for a science museum.
Fellowship with Minneapolis Playwrights Center
1980
Writes "Jitney"
1982
The first installment of Wilson's Pittsburgh cycle, "Jitney," did not get as much attention as his later work.
Wrote "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
1982
One of Wilson's Pittsburgh cycle, this play is one of Wilson's best-known.
Writes "Joe Turner's Come and Gone"
1984
The second of Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle, this play won a Tony.
Wrote "Fences"
1985
This play won Wilson a Pulitzer Prize.
August Wilson Day declared
May 27, 1987
St. Paul's mayor, George Latimer, honored August Wilson with a civic holiday.
Moved to Seattle
1990
The Seattle Repertory Theater would be the only theater company to produce all ten of the plays in his cycle.
Wrote "The Piano Lesson"
1990
Wilson's second Pulitzer Prize winner.
Board of Trustees for University of Pittsburgh
1992 - 1995
Died of liver cancer
October 5, 2002
Diagnosed earlier that year, Wilson died in Seattle.
Writes "Radio Golf"
2005
The final installment of the Pittsburgh cycle, this play was Wilson's final work, completed the year of his death.