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Coyote: The Dramatic Lives of Sam Shepard
A revelatory, magisterial biography of Sam Shepard—the dark, rugged genius of modern American theater and film, “the poet laureate of America’s emotional badlands” (Jack Kroll).
Sam Shepard was a true American original. A theater and film icon who lived life on a mythic scale, Shepard became an embodiment of the fierce independence and wild freedom of the American West. Taking us from the creative explosion of downtown New York City in the 1960s to Bob Dylan’s legendary Rolling Thunder Revue tour, from Hollywood backlots and film shoots in the Mojave Desert to the horse ranches where Shepard went to escape it all, Robert M. Dowling’s biography reveals this playwright, actor, and filmmaker as we’ve never known him before.
In this authoritative and gripping biography, acclaimed biographer Robert M. Dowling dives into Shepard’s psyche, his imagination and his soul, to craft the most comprehensive and revelatory account yet of Shepard’s enduring work and tumultuous life. Ranging from Shepard’s romances with icons like Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell, and Jessica Lange, to his groundbreaking artistic contributions to theater and film like True West, Buried Child, The Right Stuff, Days of Heaven, and Paris, Texas, Dowling draws on previously untapped archival resources and the help of members of Shepard’s family, close friends, lovers, and collaborators to place this artistic legacy in the context of the historic upheavals that compelled this extraordinary writer to so vividly record the American zeitgeist. In this biography, we see Shepard’s life, and his era, in all its splendor and chaos, from the 1960s counterculture to the rise of Trumpism.
Situating the facts of Shepard’s spirited and darkly complex personality alongside keen analyses of Shepard’s ingenious writing, this new biography couples rich storytelling with scholarly rigor to present the definitive biography of one of America’s most innovative and troubled creative geniuses.
Sam Shepard was a true American original. A theater and film icon who lived life on a mythic scale, Shepard became an embodiment of the fierce independence and wild freedom of the American West. Taking us from the creative explosion of downtown New York City in the 1960s to Bob Dylan’s legendary Rolling Thunder Revue tour, from Hollywood backlots and film shoots in the Mojave Desert to the horse ranches where Shepard went to escape it all, Robert M. Dowling’s biography reveals this playwright, actor, and filmmaker as we’ve never known him before.
In this authoritative and gripping biography, acclaimed biographer Robert M. Dowling dives into Shepard’s psyche, his imagination and his soul, to craft the most comprehensive and revelatory account yet of Shepard’s enduring work and tumultuous life. Ranging from Shepard’s romances with icons like Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell, and Jessica Lange, to his groundbreaking artistic contributions to theater and film like True West, Buried Child, The Right Stuff, Days of Heaven, and Paris, Texas, Dowling draws on previously untapped archival resources and the help of members of Shepard’s family, close friends, lovers, and collaborators to place this artistic legacy in the context of the historic upheavals that compelled this extraordinary writer to so vividly record the American zeitgeist. In this biography, we see Shepard’s life, and his era, in all its splendor and chaos, from the 1960s counterculture to the rise of Trumpism.
Situating the facts of Shepard’s spirited and darkly complex personality alongside keen analyses of Shepard’s ingenious writing, this new biography couples rich storytelling with scholarly rigor to present the definitive biography of one of America’s most innovative and troubled creative geniuses.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2025
Thank you Scribner for sending me a free advance copy!
COYOTE is a biography about the late actor and playwright Sam Shepard. He grew up in California and had a tumultuous relationship with his alcoholic father. After high school, Sam joined a repertory group and started writing plays. In 1979 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Buried Child. His writing career was garnering him attention but he also became known for his acting talent as well. He nabbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Right Stuff. He had a messy love life as he had an eye for the ladies and his drinking issues led to a DUI conviction. In 2017 he passed away from complications of ALS.
A complex man with strengths and flaws. Sam wasn’t into the Hollywood scene, instead preferring an open country lifestyle. The author goes into detail about Sam’s plays and other works. In some ways you could describe him as a private person but if you are paying attention he really opens up thru his writing. This biography does a great job in showing how Sam was far from perfect but he left his mark in this world.
COYOTE is a biography about the late actor and playwright Sam Shepard. He grew up in California and had a tumultuous relationship with his alcoholic father. After high school, Sam joined a repertory group and started writing plays. In 1979 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Buried Child. His writing career was garnering him attention but he also became known for his acting talent as well. He nabbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Right Stuff. He had a messy love life as he had an eye for the ladies and his drinking issues led to a DUI conviction. In 2017 he passed away from complications of ALS.
A complex man with strengths and flaws. Sam wasn’t into the Hollywood scene, instead preferring an open country lifestyle. The author goes into detail about Sam’s plays and other works. In some ways you could describe him as a private person but if you are paying attention he really opens up thru his writing. This biography does a great job in showing how Sam was far from perfect but he left his mark in this world.
December 4, 2025
superb job of linking the work to the life.
October 21, 2025
Coyote--The Dramatic Lives of Sam Shepard is Robert M. Dowling's aptly titled biography that chronicles the many facets of Shepard's life.
Shepard, who died in 2017, was a playwright, actor, director, musician, and self-styled cowboy. He earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his play, Buried Child, which cemented his prominence in the theater world and opened doors for him as a screenwriter, actor, and director.
Dowling notes that at the time of Shepard's death, he had written more than 60 plays, six produced screenplays, and 10 books. His acting credits included more than 60 film and television roles. Ironically, the author notes that Shepard said he wasn't even trying. We should all be so lucky.
Dowling's book is neatly organized with a prologue and an introduction that are followed by three sections that detail Shepard's life from 1943 to 2017.
The prologue and introduction are instructive in understanding who Shepard was and the direction of his life and art. He grew up in a dysfunctional home with an abusive, alcoholic father. This relationship, though painful, provided him with lifelong inspiration. His plays, which are fueled by fear, guilt, alienation, and chaos, are the product of that relationship. He was always trying to come to terms with the hell of his father.
In addition to Shepard's family situation, Dowling also chronicles his romances. He was married to actress O-Lan Jones from 1969 to 1984 and had a long-term relationship with actress Jessica Lange. Even though they separated in 2009, she remained a part of his life until the end. He was also romantically linked with musicians Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith.
Readers of a certain age may enjoy the content about Shepard's film career the most. Though he often disparaged Hollywood, he was frequently cast in rugged and stoic roles. Days of Heaven, The Right Stuff, and Black Hawk Down bear this out. Whether a farmer, a test pilot, or a general, Shepard delivered an authentic masculine performance that is the film's foundation.
In 2014, Shepard contracted progressive muscular atrophy, a condition that causes the degeneration of neurons in the spinal cord. Despite difficulty with his arms and legs, Shepard remained a writer to the end, managing to complete two books before his death. One family member noted that the disease never dulled his drive or desire.
Ultimately, Dowling’s book offers an intimate look at Shepard’s art and his lifelong effort to make sense of the world and his father. Given his prolific output, I don’t know if he ever found peace, but Dowling shows us Shephard gave it his all. And for that, we’re all richer.
I received an advance reading copy from NetGalley.com.
Shepard, who died in 2017, was a playwright, actor, director, musician, and self-styled cowboy. He earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his play, Buried Child, which cemented his prominence in the theater world and opened doors for him as a screenwriter, actor, and director.
Dowling notes that at the time of Shepard's death, he had written more than 60 plays, six produced screenplays, and 10 books. His acting credits included more than 60 film and television roles. Ironically, the author notes that Shepard said he wasn't even trying. We should all be so lucky.
Dowling's book is neatly organized with a prologue and an introduction that are followed by three sections that detail Shepard's life from 1943 to 2017.
The prologue and introduction are instructive in understanding who Shepard was and the direction of his life and art. He grew up in a dysfunctional home with an abusive, alcoholic father. This relationship, though painful, provided him with lifelong inspiration. His plays, which are fueled by fear, guilt, alienation, and chaos, are the product of that relationship. He was always trying to come to terms with the hell of his father.
In addition to Shepard's family situation, Dowling also chronicles his romances. He was married to actress O-Lan Jones from 1969 to 1984 and had a long-term relationship with actress Jessica Lange. Even though they separated in 2009, she remained a part of his life until the end. He was also romantically linked with musicians Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith.
Readers of a certain age may enjoy the content about Shepard's film career the most. Though he often disparaged Hollywood, he was frequently cast in rugged and stoic roles. Days of Heaven, The Right Stuff, and Black Hawk Down bear this out. Whether a farmer, a test pilot, or a general, Shepard delivered an authentic masculine performance that is the film's foundation.
In 2014, Shepard contracted progressive muscular atrophy, a condition that causes the degeneration of neurons in the spinal cord. Despite difficulty with his arms and legs, Shepard remained a writer to the end, managing to complete two books before his death. One family member noted that the disease never dulled his drive or desire.
Ultimately, Dowling’s book offers an intimate look at Shepard’s art and his lifelong effort to make sense of the world and his father. Given his prolific output, I don’t know if he ever found peace, but Dowling shows us Shephard gave it his all. And for that, we’re all richer.
I received an advance reading copy from NetGalley.com.
November 3, 2025
4.5 stars,
Coyote is an extremely well researched tale of Shepard’s life, and what a life it was - I enjoyed Dowling’s writing style and was thankful for the opportunity to read this well written biography of the highly interesting Sam Shepard.
I also loved learning that U2’s *The Joshua Tree* (which has been one of my lifetime favorites since the late 80’s) was inspired by Shepard’s *Paris, Texas*, which also inspired much more (Wes Anderson and Sam Mendez, and went a long way to turn Texas into a cool destination.
Recommended.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the DRC
Coyote is an extremely well researched tale of Shepard’s life, and what a life it was - I enjoyed Dowling’s writing style and was thankful for the opportunity to read this well written biography of the highly interesting Sam Shepard.
I also loved learning that U2’s *The Joshua Tree* (which has been one of my lifetime favorites since the late 80’s) was inspired by Shepard’s *Paris, Texas*, which also inspired much more (Wes Anderson and Sam Mendez, and went a long way to turn Texas into a cool destination.
Recommended.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the DRC
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews