Biography
Michael McClure (20 October 1932 – 4 May 2020) was an American poet, playwright, novelist and occasional actor. After studying at the University of Wichita, the University of Arizona and San Francisco State College, he moved to San Francisco and gained prominence as one of the poets who read at the Six Gallery reading in 1955.
He became a central figure in the Beat Generation and appeared in several films, including a role as Plummer in Peter Fonda's The Hired Hand (1971). He also featured as himself in Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz (1978) and had an uncredited part in Lions Love (1969). McClure wrote numerous poetry collections, plays such as The Beard, and collaborated on songs including Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz".
