Sumner Locke Elliott

Elliott was born in Sydney to the writer Sumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsia one day after his birth.^[2] Elliott was raised by his aunts, who had a fierce custody battle over him, fictionalised in Elliott's autobiographical novel, Careful, He Might Hear You. Elliott was educated at Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.^[1]

Elliott became an actor and writer with the Doris Fitton's The Independent Theatre Ltd. He was drafted into the Australian Army in 1942 but was not posted overseas, working as a clerk in Australia. He used those experiences as the inspiration for his controversial play, Rusty Bugles. In October 1948, it achieved the notoriety of being closed down for obscenity by the New South Wales Chief Secretary's Office.^[3]

Elliott moved to the United States in 1948, writing more than 30 original plays and numerous adaptations for such shows as The Philco Television Playhouse, Kraft Television Theatre, Studio One and Playhouse 90. He also wrote a play, Buy Me Blue Ribbons, which had a short run on Broadway.^[4]

In 1955, he obtained United States citizenship and did not return to Australia until 1974.^[1] His TV play The Grey Nurse Said Nothing aired on TV in the US and Australia.^[5]

Elliott's novel, Careful, He Might Hear You, won the 1963 Miles Franklin Award^[6] and was turned into a film in 1983.

As a gay man during a time when this was not socially approved, Elliott was uncomfortable with his sexuality. He kept it secret until nearly the end of his life before coming out in his book Fairyland. Because of these fears, Elliott had affairs but never had any stable relationships.^[7]

He died of colon cancer aged 73 in New York City in 1991.^[1]