caption resting_place death_date death_place birth_place relatives birth_date image article_title name occupation alma_mater
woollcott in 1939 photographed by carl van vechten hamilton college , clinton , new york 23 january 1943 new york city , new york phalanx , new jersey walter woollcott -lrb- mother -rrb- , william w. woollcott -lrb- brother woollcott -rrb- -lrb- father -rrb- , frances grey bucklin 19 january 1887 alexander woollcott -lrb- 1939 -rrb- . jpg alexander woollcott
 alexander woollcott drama actor , raconteur , radio personality critic , essayist , playwright , editor , hamilton college
alexander woollcott

alexander humphreys woollcott -lrb- january 19 , 1887 -- january 23 , 1943 -rrb- was an american critic and commentator for `` the new yorker '' magazine and a member of the algonquin round table .
he was the inspiration for sheridan whiteside , the main character in the play `` the man who came to dinner '' -lrb- 1939 -rrb- by george s. kaufman and moss hart , and for the far less likable character waldo lydecker in the film `` laura '' -lrb- 1944 -rrb- .
he was convinced he was the inspiration for rex stout 's brilliant detective nero wolfe , but stout , although he was friendly to woollcott , said there was nothing to that idea .
