David Belasco

David Belasco (July 25, 1853 - May 14, 1931) was an important American playwright, theatrical producer, and producer.

Born in San Francisco, California, in early 1870s he began working in a San Francisco theatre doing a variety of routine jobs such as call boy and script copier. He eventually was given the opportunity to act and serve as a stage manager, learning the business inside out. A gifted playright, Belasco went to New York City in 1882 where he worked as stage manager for the Madison Square Theater while writing plays. By 1895, he was so successful that he set himself up as an independent producer.

During his long career between 1884 and 1930, Belasco either wrote, directed, or produced more than 100 Broadway plays, making him the most powerful personality on the New York city theater scene. Although he is perhaps most famous for having penned Madama Butterfly and The Girl of the West for the stage, more than forty motion pictures have been made from the many plays he authored.

David Belasco died in 1931 in New York City and was interred in the Linden Hills Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York .