David Rabe

Introduction

David Rabe

David Rabe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and spent two years in the service, the last year of which he fought in Vietnam. That experience is the basis for most of his plays. After completing his tour of duty, Rabe resumed his studies at Villanova, where he had been doing graduate work before being drafted. During this period, he wrote his first play, The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, which is considered one of the first important works of literature to treat the Vietnam War. His subsequent plays—Sticks and Bones (about a family dealing with their newly blinded son’s return from Vietnam) and Streamers—were also based on his war experiences. Highly charged language and the depiction of intense violence characterize his work.

Essential Facts

1. Rabe’s writing is not exclusively about war. He also focuses on the themes of family life, religion, media, and sexuality.
2. Rabe has been married to actress Jill Clayburgh for 28 years. Their daughter Lily Rabe is also an actress.
3. Rabe wrote the lyrics for the song “Baby When I Find You,” which was featured in his play Sticks and Bones.
4. In a departure from his usual work, Rabe’s play A Question of Mercy was inspired by an article by Dr. Richard Selzer about helping an AIDS patient commit suicide.
5. Rabe wrote the screenplay Casualties of War.