Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 130, pp. 419-430. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.

Awarded the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. First West Indies native to receive this award.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1998 Tony Award as Best Original Musical Score for "The Capeman," his lyrics with music by Paul Simon.

Has three children: Peter, Elizabeth, and Anna.

He was awarded the 1970 OBIE Award for Distinguished Playwriting for "The Dream on Monkey Mountain" on off-Broadway in New York City.

His play, "The Dream on Monkey Mountain," at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 1970 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Production.

He attended the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, and moved to Trinidad in 1953, where he was a theater and art critic. He published his first poetry collection when he was 18. He was also an accomplished painter and playwright.

Had a twin Roderick (d.2000) also was a playwright.