Sam Shepard: Life, Legacy, Cause of Death, and Buried Child

Few American playwrights of the 20th century left a mark as deep and complicated as Sam Shepard. From his Pulitzer-winning play Buried Child to his intense relationship with actress Jessica Lange, Shepard’s life was as dramatic as any of his scripts, and he died at 73 from complications of ALS, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire.

Born: November 5, 1943 ·
Died: July 27, 2017 ·
Cause of death: ALS ·
Notable work: Buried Child ·
Major award: Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1979) ·
Partner: Jessica Lange (1982–2009)

Seven key biographical facts, one pattern: Shepard’s life was a blend of artistic triumph and personal turbulence.

What did Sam Shepard pass away from?

Sam Shepard’s ALS diagnosis

• According to PBS NewsHour (public media), Shepard died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on July 27, 2017.
• The diagnosis came in 2016, roughly a year before his death (WBRZ (local affiliate)).
• ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, attacks nerve cells controlling voluntary movement. Shepard chose to spend his final months at his home in Kentucky, where he died at age 73 (Vogue (cultural magazine)).

Final years of Sam Shepard

Despite his condition, Shepard remained active in writing and occasional performances. The WBUR (NPR station) reported that he continued working on new material up until his final weeks. A later profile in ArtsFuse (arts criticism site) noted that Shepard struggled with alcoholism earlier in life and had achieved a period of sobriety. His death from ALS marked the end of a career that reshaped American theater.

The implication: Shepard’s death from ALS in 2017 was both a loss and a closure to a life of relentless creativity.

What was Sam Shepard accused of?

2009 DUI arrest

• In 2009, Shepard was arrested for DUI and reckless driving in Illinois (Wikipedia).
• He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received two years of probation (Wikipedia).

Legal consequences

Beyond the DUI, no other criminal accusations against Shepard have been widely reported. The incident coincided with his separation from Jessica Lange, but the two events may not be directly linked. The Yahoo News (news aggregator) reported that the couple parted ways that same year without public statements about the split. What this means: Shepard’s legal trouble remains the only concrete accusation on the public record.

The pattern: only one legal incident has been confirmed, but speculation persists.

Who was the love of Sam Shepard’s life?

Patti Smith: Muse and early partner

• Shepard had a relationship with punk poet and musician Patti Smith in the late 1960s through the 1970s (Wikipedia).
• Smith later detailed their romance in her memoir Just Kids, describing Shepard as a formative influence on her art.

Jessica Lange: Long-time partner and mother of his children

• Shepard met Jessica Lange in 1982 on the set of the film Frances (Wikipedia).
• They were together for 27 years, from 1982 to 2009, and had two children together (Wikipedia).
• Despite the length and depth of their relationship, the couple never married (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Shepard’s two most significant relationships – with Patti Smith and Jessica Lange – each spanned a different phase of his life, reflecting his evolution from bohemian artist to established playwright and actor.

Why did Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard split up?

Possible reasons for the separation

• The couple separated in 2009; neither Lange nor Shepard publicly detailed the reasons (Yahoo News).
• Speculation includes Shepard’s DUI arrest and ongoing personal struggles, but no confirmed link exists.

Shepard’s later years

Following the split, Shepard lived largely out of the spotlight. He maintained a close relationship with his children and continued writing. Lange later spoke about Shepard in 2020, the first time in three years, according to a fan archive (Sam Shepard Web Site) – though the reliability of that source is limited.

The trade-off: Shepard’s privacy, while respected by many, leaves gaps that fuel curiosity. The public may never know the full story behind one of theater’s most famous partnerships.

What is Sam Shepard’s Buried Child about?

Plot summary

Buried Child follows the dysfunctional Dodge family in rural Illinois. The play’s central mystery – a buried infant in the backyard – symbolizes the family’s hidden secrets and decay.

Themes and symbolism

• The play explores themes of decay, secrets, and the myth of the American heartland (Wikipedia).
• It uses raw language and surreal elements to confront the collapse of traditional family structures.

Pulitzer Prize recognition

• Buried Child won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 (Wikipedia).
• The PBS NewsHour described Shepard as a playwright who “gave voice to the drama of the American heartland.”

“He gave voice to the drama of the American heartland.”

— PBS NewsHour

Why this matters: Buried Child remains Shepard’s most celebrated work, a play that captured the anxieties of a changing America and secured his place in literary history.

Timeline

• 1943 – Born in Fort Sheridan, Illinois (Wikipedia)
• 1960s – Begins writing plays, moves to New York City (Wikipedia)
• 1970s – Relationship with Patti Smith; writes Buried Child (Wikipedia)
• 1979 – Wins Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Buried Child (Wikipedia)
• 1982 – Begins relationship with Jessica Lange (Yahoo News)
• 1984 – Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Right Stuff (Wikipedia)
• 2009 – Arrested for DUI and reckless driving; separates from Lange (Wikipedia)
• 2016 – Diagnosed with ALS (WBRZ)
• 2017 – Dies from ALS complications in Kentucky (PBS NewsHour)

This timeline shows the arc of a life marked by both achievement and personal struggle.

Clarity: What we know and what remains open

The confirmed facts anchor the narrative, while the unclear areas leave room for further inquiry.

Quotes on Sam Shepard’s life and work

“Shepard was a Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright who died of complications from ALS.”

— Vogue (cultural magazine)

“Shepard was a renowned actor and playwright who succumbed to ALS.”

— WBUR (NPR affiliate)

“Shepard sought help for alcoholism and had a four-year dry period.”

— ArtsFuse (arts criticism site)

Sam Shepard’s legacy is a study in contrasts: a playwright who peeled back the facade of American life while struggling with his own complexities. For theater lovers and biographers alike, the choice is clear: dig into his work, where the most honest version of the man resides.

For a deeper look into how the disease quietly took his voice and mobility, read Sam Shepards ALS battle.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address common curiosities about Shepard’s life and work.