Hairspray co-writer Mark O'Donnell dies at 58
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In this June 8, 2003 file photo, Thomas Meehan, left, and Mark O'Donnell pose with their Tony awards for best book of a Musical for "Hairspray" during the 57th Annual Tony Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Mark O'Donnell, the Tony Award-winning writer behind such quirky and clever Broadway shows as Hairspray and Cry-Baby, died on Monday, his agent said. He was 58. -- PHOTO: AP
NEW YORK (AP) - Mark O'Donnell, the Tony Award-winning writer behind such quirky and clever Broadway shows as Hairspray and Cry-Baby, died on Monday, his agent said. He was 58.
Jack Tantleff, O'Donnell's agent at the Paradigm agency, said the writer collapsed in the lobby of his apartment complex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
"He was a huge talent, and a warm, witty and wonderful man who marched to his own drummer," Tantleff said.
O'Donnell won the 2003 Tony for best book of a musical for co-writing Hairspray with Thomas Meehan, and the pair earned Tony nominations in 2008 for doing the same for another John Waters work, Cry-Baby.
