Pocono News Section

Famous Playwright Honored in Scranton

Famous Playwright Honored in Scranton - Monday, December 1, 2008 at 6:35PM EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A legendary playwright and actor was remembered Monday afternoon in Lackawanna County. Academy award nominee Jason Miller, who grew up in Scranton, was honored with a long-awaited memorial.
After years of planning and design, Jason Miller finally has a permanent place on Courthouse Square. The bust of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Winner was sculpted by his long-time friend, actor Paul Sorvino.

"It's the hardest thing I ever did and sculpting is not hard for me... I started it twice before this and threw it away. It was just too difficult," Sorvino said.

Dana Oxley, Miller's common-law wife, attended Monday's dedication. She was shocked at how realistic the bust is.

"That bust looks like him, as a young man and as an older guy," Oxley said.

Miller is best known for his play "That Championship Season," but he also grabbed headlines in the movies The Exorcist and Rudy. He spent 16 years in Scranton Public Theater and actors who worked with him say this is a proud day.

"Jason would probably get a big kick out of it, to tell you the truth," his friend and fellow actor Gary Barrett said. "I knew him and he had a great sense of humor."

"What was so great about him, is he made everyone feel special. From the lowest to the highest, across the board, he treated everyone the same," his friend and fellow actor John McLaughlin said.

Miller died in May of 2001. His friends hope the bust inspires a new generation to love the arts, just like Miller inspired many of his fellow actors to do.

"He taught them to dream. He taught them its okay to rise above and get out of here and give it a shot," McLaughlin said.

The memorial bust was paid for with the help of $20,000 in private donations.