Biography: Joseph Stein was born in the Bronx on May 30, 1912 to Charles Stein and Emma Rosenblum. He earned a master's degree in social work from Columbia University in 1937 and had a career in the field until he met performer Zero Mostel through a mutual friend. His first marriage to Sadie Singer ended with her death in 1974. He married his second wife, actress Elisa Loti, in 1975. He is survived by his wife; three sons from his first marriage, Daniel, Harry and Joshua Stein; a stepson, John Bader; a stepdaughter, Jenny Lyn Bader; and six grandchildren.

Film/TV Credits: He wrote for many film and television shows including: "Sorbas," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Enter Laughing," "A Date with Debbie," "American Cowboy," "Your Show of Shows," and "Plain and Fancy."

Other Awards: Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in January 2008. Honored by The Dramatists Guild of America with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Honored by the York Theatre with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre in 2007.

Trivia:
The marquees of the Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor on October 28, 2010.