Brendan Behan biography

Profile

Born in 1923 in Dublin, Brendan Behan was reared in a family active in revolutionary causes against the British. At the age of eight, he began what became a lifelong battle with alcoholism. After several jail terms, Behan write two plays that put him on the map: The Quare Fellow and The Hostage. When the latter opened on Broadway, Behan became celebrated in the theater world.