Happy 96th Birthday to our founder William Kennedy!

Best wishes for a happy 96th birthday to William Kennedy, founder of the NYS Writers Institute / Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist / journalist / screenwriter / playwright /mentor to generations of writers / Albany's greatest literary ambassador.

Top billing for Bill! The Times Union newspaper publishes a "Today's Birthday" item each day.

Bill Kennedy, Writers Institute Director Paul Grondahl, and Bill's daughter Kathy Caruso at a holiday party at Bill's house on Friday, December 29.

Friends George Sloan and Suzanne Lance (former associate director of the Writers Institute) at Bill's holiday party.

Bill Kennedy at the conclusion of our marathon reading of Ironweed at Capital Repertory Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

A sampling of William Kennedy videos from our YouTube archives.

2021: Russell Banks in conversation with William Kennedy

2020: A Zoom conversation with William Kennedy and Paul Grondahl

2019: Francis Ford Coppola and William Kennedy discuss "The Cotton Club" at a sold-out event at the Empire State Plaza, Albany

2018: 90th birthday celebration remarks, Cafe Capriccio, Albany

2016: William Kennedy Discusses Adapting The Novel Ironweed To Film

2012: C-SPAN Cities Tour - Albany: O Albany! -- William Kennedy