(1876-1933)
Along with his brother Addison Mizner, Wilson Mizner led a controversial but fascinating life, working as a shill in medicine shows, professional gambler, and fight promoter before turning to theatre to write a play, The Only Law (1909), with George Bronson Howard. His later plays, cowritten with Paul Armstrong, were successful, including The Deep Purple (1911) and The Greyhound (1912). He also assisted Armstrong with writing the hit Alias Jimmy Valentine (1910). Mizner wrote motion picture scripts and, along with his brother, was the subject of Stephen Sondheim's* musical Bounce (2003).
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.