Biographie

Won three Tony Awards as Best Book (Musical): in 1973 for "A Little Night Music;" in 1974 for "Candide;" and in 1979 for "Sweeney Todd." He was also nominated posthumously in the same category in 1990 for "Meet Me in St. Louis."

His mystery novels were greatly admired by his friend Sir John Gielgud, who also directed the original Broadway production of Wheeler's play "Big Fish, Little Fish".

With Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, he was awarded the 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Musical Production of 2003 for Pacific Overtures performed at the Donmar Warehouse.

He lived in the United States from 1934 until his death and became an American citizen in 1942.

Wheeler wrote mystery stories under various pen names (Patrick Quentin, Q. Patrick, and Jonathan Stagge) with different writing partners: Martha Mott Kelley, Mary Louise White Aswell, and most frequently Richard W. Webb. Wheeler and Webb's collaborations were adapted for TV and film on numerous occasions.