Playwright Neil Simon, whose hits included “The Odd Couple,” ”Barefoot in the Park” and his “Brighton Beach” trilogy, has died. He was 91. Simon died early Sunday of complications from pneumonia surrounded by family at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, said Bill Evans, his longtime friend and the Shubert Organization director of media relations.Simon was one of the American theater’s most successful and prolific playwrights, often chronicling middle class issues and fears. Simon’s stage successes included “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” ”Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” ”The Sunshine Boys,” ”Plaza Suite,” ”Chapter Two,” ”Sweet Charity” and “Promises, Promises.” Many of his plays were adapted into movies and “The Odd Couple” became a popular television series. Simon was the recipient of four Tony Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, the Kennedy Center honors (1995), four Writers Guild of America Awards, an American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement honor and, in 1983, he had a Broadway theater named after him when the Alvin was rechristened the Neil Simon Theatre. Simon was married five times, twice to the same woman. He is survived by three daughters, three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
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