Damon Runyon

Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and short-story writer, celebrated for his unique and colorful tales of the New York City underworld. His stories, featuring a memorable cast of gamblers, hustlers, and showgirls on Broadway, were written in a distinctive vernacular that became known as “Runyonese.” His work, most famously the basis for the hit musical Guys and Dolls, has left an enduring mark on American literature and theatre.

Listen to an introduction about Damon Runyon

Name: Alfred Damon Runyon

Date of Birth: October 4, 1880 (Died: December 10, 1946)

Place of Birth: Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.

Family:

Spouses: Ellen Egan (1911–1931), Patrice Amati del Grande (1932–1946)
Children: Damon Runyon Jr., Mary Runyon
Parents: Alfred Lee Runyon and Elizabeth (Damon) Runyon

Profession: Newspaperman, Short-Story Writer

Nationality: American

College or University Attended: Did not attend college.

Biography and What Famous For:

Damon Runyon began his career in journalism, working for various newspapers before becoming a nationally syndicated columnist for Hearst Newspapers. He gained fame as a sportswriter, particularly for his coverage of baseball and boxing, but also covered major crime trials.

His most lasting fame, however, comes from his short stories. Set in the theaters, bars, and back alleys of Broadway during the Prohibition era, Runyon’s tales chronicled a vibrant, semi-fictional world. He is famous for his unique literary style, “Runyonese,” which mixed formal, elaborate language with colorful slang, and was always written in the historical present tense. His characters had unforgettable names like Nathan Detroit, Harry the Horse, and Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

Runyon’s most famous legacy is the classic 1950 musical Guys and Dolls, which was adapted from two of his short stories, “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” and “Blood Pressure.” Many of his other stories were also turned into popular films, including Little Miss Marker and The Lemon Drop Kid.

After a long battle with throat cancer, which cost him his voice, Runyon passed away in 1946. His friend and fellow columnist, Walter Winchell, appealed for donations to fight the disease, leading to the creation of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which remains a leading cancer research charity.

Career Highlights:

Notable Works (Short Story Collections):

Guys and Dolls (1932)
Blue Plate Special (1934)
Money from Home (1935)
More Than Somewhat (1937)

Works Based on His Stories:

Musical: Guys and Dolls (1950)
Selected Films:
- Lady for a Day (1933)
- Little Miss Marker (1934)
- The Lemon Drop Kid (1934)
- A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
- The Big Street (1942)
- Guys and Dolls (1955)