Luke Yankee

Luke Yankee (born February 7, 1960) is an American writer, playwright, and director. He has also taught playwriting at California State University, Fullerton and Chapman University.

Early life and education Yankee is the son of actress Eileen Heckart. His father, Jack Yankee, was an insurance broker. He studied at the University of California, Riverside, New York University, and at the Juilliard Drama School in New York. He has an MFA in Playwriting and Screenwriting. He is married to Don Hill, the Chair of Drama at the University of California, Irvine.

Career Yankee worked as producing artistic director of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera. He assistant directed six Broadway plays for such directors as Harold Prince, Ellis Rabb, Brian Murray, and Gerald Freedman.

In 2010, his play The Jesus Hickey was staged and produced by the Katselas Theatre Company, starring Harry Hamlin. The same play received both the TRU Voices Award, and the Joel and Phyllis Ehrlich Award.

Yankee’s latest work is Marilyn, Mom & Me; a play about his mother’s intense friendship with Marilyn Monroe while shooting the film Bus Stop. It was the recipient of the 2022 Stanley Award for Drama.

He is the Head of Playwriting at California State University, Fullerton and an adjunct professor at Chapman University.