About
Beat Generation poet, author, and playwright known for Love Lion Book, The Beard, and other works. Also a journalist, he wrote for Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among other publications.
Before Fame
He published his first poetry volume, Passage, in 1956.
Trivia
He was the inspiration for the character of "Pat McLear" in Jack Kerouac's famous novel Big Sur.
Family Life
He was born in Kansas, and he later settled in California. With his wife Joanna, he had one daughter.
Associated With
He and rock musician Jim Morrison were close friends.
