James Kirkwood was an American playwright, actor and author born in Los Angeles. His novels include P.S. Your Cat Is Dead (1972), Good Times, Bad Times (1968)
and Some Kind of Hero (1975); he was a capable author of popular fiction and most have gay elements, and a number were adapted for the stage or screen.
He is however probably best known for writing the book for the hugely successful musical A Chorus Line, for which he won a Tony in 1976, as well as a New York Drama Critic's Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for best drama. A Chorus Line is credited with being the first Broadway musical to deal with homosexuality in a matter-of-fact way - the concept for the show came from gay choreographer Michael Bennett.A Chorus Line was still playing when James Kirkwood died from AIDS-related cancer at his home in New York in April 1989.