Renowned Playwright, Actor and Director Sam Shepard Dead at 73

Introducing Endless Mode: A New Games & Anime Site from Paste

Read our announcement | See the 10 Best Games of 2025 (So Far)

Actor, director and playwright Sam Shepard has died, Broadway World reports. Shepard died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on July 27, surrounded by the comfort of his family. He was 73 years old.

During his lifetime, the prolific Shepard wrote numerous books and a total of 44 plays. He also received the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child. Additionally, Shepard was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1983 for his turn as Chuck Yeager in Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff.

Shepard is survived by his children, Hannah, Jesse and Walker Shepard, and his sisters, Roxanne and Sandy Rogers. “The family requests privacy at this difficult time,” said family spokesperson Chris Boneau.

Stay tuned to Paste for an in-depth remembrance of Shepard and his legacy.