The Iconic Playwright Who May Have Died Because Of A Bottle Cap
Wildly talented, Tennessee Williams was privately tortured, which contributed to the sad and sudden end of his life
Those who truly excel in the arts can gain immortal status in memory and appreciation if their work is embraced enough. Someone who personifies this is American playwright Tennessee Williams, who churned out an impressive and lasting portfolio of plays and other written work. Unfortunately, the writing legend died in the most unusual of ways — choking to death on a bottle cap.
Williams was born in Mississippi in 1911 as Thomas Lanier Williams III, and began finding success in writing competitions before he finished high school. Due to his exaggerated Southern drawl, he earned the moniker of “Tennessee.” He struggled in college and was ultimately disenrolled by his disappointed father, and put to work in a shoe factory. However, he hated the job so intensely that it fortified his desire to succeed in writing. Although he threw himself into that endeavor during any of his available time, it unfortunately proved to be too stressful, as he just couldn’t find his big break and he ultimately suffered a nervous breakdown.
In his mid-twenties, he rebounded and was able to complete college. He also…
