Joseph Madison LeSueur (September 15, 1924 – May 14, 2001 [1]) was an American poet and screenwriter. He is known as a lover of Frank O'Hara and the author of Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir. [2] [3] [4]
LeSueur grew up in Los Angeles, California and was raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in World War II and attended the University of Southern California on the GI Bill. [3] After graduating, he moved to New York City in 1949. [3] [5] LeSueur met O'Hara at a party in 1951, [2] and the two lived together between 1955 and 1965. [6] [3] During these years, O'Hara wrote many of his most famous poems, including the collection Lunch Poems. [7] From 1959 to 1963, the two lived at 441 East 9th St in the East Village. [8] As a member of the New York literary and art scenes, LeSueur knew Andy Warhol and the two conspired to write a movie together. [9] He was also a friend of the writer and translator Patsy Southgate. [7]
LeSueur's social circle is depicted in Wynn Chamberlain's diptych "Poets Dressed and Undressed," which shows LeSueur alongside O'Hara, Joe Brainard, and Frank Lima. [10]
LeSueur died on May 14, 2001, in East Hampton, New York, aged 76. [11]
Having worked as an editor and critic, LeSueur eventually found work as a regular writer for the soap opera Guiding Light. [3] [7] He was a writer for several TV series, including Another World (1964), Texas (1980) and Ryan's Hope (1975). [12]
With Bill Berkson, he edited the book Homage to Frank O'Hara (Big Sky Books, 1978). [13]
Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir is a book that weaves together poems by O'Hara and LeSueur's own memoir. [6] LeSueur finished the book shortly before his own death in 2001. [14]
Joseph Madison LeSueur (September 15, 1924 – May 14, 2001 [1]) was an American poet and screenwriter. He is known as a lover of Frank O'Hara and the author of Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir. [2] [3] [4]
LeSueur grew up in Los Angeles, California and was raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in World War II and attended the University of Southern California on the GI Bill. [3] After graduating, he moved to New York City in 1949. [3] [5] LeSueur met O'Hara at a party in 1951, [2] and the two lived together between 1955 and 1965. [6] [3] During these years, O'Hara wrote many of his most famous poems, including the collection Lunch Poems. [7] From 1959 to 1963, the two lived at 441 East 9th St in the East Village. [8] As a member of the New York literary and art scenes, LeSueur knew Andy Warhol and the two conspired to write a movie together. [9] He was also a friend of the writer and translator Patsy Southgate. [7]
LeSueur's social circle is depicted in Wynn Chamberlain's diptych "Poets Dressed and Undressed," which shows LeSueur alongside O'Hara, Joe Brainard, and Frank Lima. [10]
LeSueur died on May 14, 2001, in East Hampton, New York, aged 76. [11]
Having worked as an editor and critic, LeSueur eventually found work as a regular writer for the soap opera Guiding Light. [3] [7] He was a writer for several TV series, including Another World (1964), Texas (1980) and Ryan's Hope (1975). [12]
With Bill Berkson, he edited the book Homage to Frank O'Hara (Big Sky Books, 1978). [13]
Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O’Hara: A Memoir is a book that weaves together poems by O'Hara and LeSueur's own memoir. [6] LeSueur finished the book shortly before his own death in 2001. [14]