# Jack Sharkey

## Biography

Jack Sharkey, born John Michael Sharkey on May 6, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, was a prolific American writer. He discovered his passion for writing at the age of ten and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. After teaching for two years and serving in the Army, where he wrote and directed shows, Sharkey embarked on a freelance writing career in 1958. Initially, he explored various genres, including science fiction stories for magazines like Fantastic and Galaxy, humor articles for Playboy, and mystery novels. In 1965, he penned his first stage comedy, eventually dedicating himself almost exclusively to playwriting from the mid-1970s. Sharkey authored over eighty published plays under his own name and several pseudonyms, including Rick Abbot, Monk Ferris, Mark Chandler, and Mike Johnson. His works, primarily comedies and musicals, achieved global recognition. Jack Sharkey passed away on September 28, 1992.

## Books

- [The Business, As Usual](https://samolit.com/books/96477)