George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889 – June 2, 1961) was an American
playwright,
theatre director and
producer,
humorist, and
drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals, notably for the
Marx Brothers. One play and one musical that he wrote won the
Pulitzer Prize for Drama:
You Can't Take It with You (1937, with
Moss Hart), and
Of Thee I Sing (1932, with
Morrie Ryskind and
Ira Gershwin). He also won the
Tony Award as a Director, for the musical
Guys and Dolls.