E.B. White.

Elwyn Brooks White

E.B. White — Actor

Born 11 Jul 1899 Mount Vernon, United States

Died 1 Oct 1985 North Brooklin, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 126 yr If Living

6 min read

Reading time

1,124

Words

Jun 4, 2026

Published

1

Film credit

58

Books

6

Awards

TL;DR

E.B. White, born Elwyn Brooks White on July 11, 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York, wrote the children’s books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. He earned a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1978 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. White worked as a writer and narrator, narrating the 1973 film The Family That Dwelt Apart. He died from Alzheimer’s disease on October 1, 1985 in Maine.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of E.B. White — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Native Name Elwyn Brooks White

Nicknames Andy

PARENTS: Jessica Wallace Hart
SPOUSES: Katharine Sergeant Angell
CHILDREN: Joel White
SIBLINGS: Stanley Hart White

At a glance.

STATS

E.B. White by the numbers — life, work, and family.

86 Years lived

1 Film credit

58 Books

6 Awards

1 Marriage

1 Child

Who was E.B. White?

BIOGRAPHY

E.B. White — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

E.B. White was born Elwyn Brooks White on July 11, 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York to Jessica Wallace Hart. He grew up with his brother Stanley Hart White and attended Mount Vernon High School before enrolling at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Career

White worked as a writer and actor. In 1973, he narrated the short film The Family That Dwelt Apart. His books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little were adapted into films in 2006 and 1999. In 1978, he received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. He also earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Children’s Literature Legacy Award.

Personal life

On November 13, 1929, White married Katharine Sergeant Angell, who remained his lifelong partner until her death in 1977. The couple had one son, Joel White. White was also the stepfather of writer Roger Angell from Katharine’s previous marriage. The family split time between New York and Maine, where White continued to write.

Legacy

White’s books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little continue to be read. He received the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the PEN New England Award. The Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1978 recognized his contributions. E.B. White is remembered for these stories.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of E.B. White — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

The Family That Dwelt Apart

1973

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by E.B. White — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

PEN New England Award
Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Children's Literature Legacy Award
Newbery Honor
Hans Christian Andersen Award

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 58

E.B. White's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon Goodreads

The Elements of Style

by William Strunk et al.
Amazon Goodreads

Charlotte's Web

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

Stuart Little

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

The Trumpet of the Swan

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

Is Sex Necessary?, Or, Why You Always Feel the Way You Do

by James Thurber et al.
Amazon Goodreads

A Subtreasury of American Humor

by E. B. White et al.
Amazon Goodreads

One Man's Meat

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

Letters of E. B. White

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

The Second Tree from the Corner

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

Essays of E. B. White

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

Hey! Listen to This

by Jim Trelease et al.
Amazon Goodreads

Timeless Stories for Today and Tomorrow

by Ray Bradbury et al.
Amazon Goodreads

The Points of My Compass

by E. B. White
Amazon Goodreads

It's Great to Be Eight

by Beverly Cleary et al.

Could not load more books.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 1

A wall of memorable lines from E.B. White — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Analyzing Humor Is Like Dissecting a Frog. Few People Are Interested and the Frog Dies of It.

Did you know?

FACTS · 4

Little-known facts about E.B. White — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

In 1978, White received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.
Writer Roger Angell was his stepson.
A biography of White appears in The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume One, 1981-1985.
White graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about E.B. White.

When was E.B. White born?

E.B. White was born on July 11, 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York. He was the son of Jessica Wallace Hart.
Where was E.B. White born?

E.B. White was born in Mount Vernon, New York, USA. He spent his early childhood in this suburban community.
When did E.B. White die?

E.B. White died on October 1, 1985 in North Brooklin, Maine. He was 86 years old.
How old was E.B. White when he died?

E.B. White was 86 years old when he passed away on October 1, 1985. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Where did E.B. White die?

E.B. White died in North Brooklin, Maine, USA. He had lived in Maine for many years.
How did E.B. White die?

E.B. White died from Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away on October 1, 1985 in North Brooklin, Maine.
What is E.B. White's full name?

E.B. White’s full name is Elwyn Brooks White. He was born on July 11, 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York.
What did E.B. White do for a living?

E.B. White was a writer and actor. He wrote children’s books and narrated the 1973 film The Family That Dwelt Apart.
What nationality is E.B. White?

E.B. White was American. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York and held United States citizenship.
What language did E.B. White speak?

E.B. White’s native language was English. All of his published works are in English.
Who were E.B. White's parents?

E.B. White’s mother was Jessica Wallace Hart. His father’s name is not recorded in available sources.
Who was E.B. White married to?

E.B. White was married to Katharine Sergeant Angell. They married on November 13, 1929 and remained together until her death in 1977.
Did E.B. White have children?

Yes, E.B. White had one child, Joel White. He also was stepfather to writer Roger Angell from his wife’s previous marriage.
Does E.B. White have any siblings?

Yes, E.B. White had one sibling, Stanley Hart White. Stanley was his brother.
Where did E.B. White go to school?

E.B. White attended Mount Vernon High School and later Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
What awards has E.B. White won?

E.B. White received multiple awards including the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Children’s Literature Legacy Award, Newbery Honor, PEN New England Award, and Hans Christian Andersen Award.
How many awards did E.B. White win?

E.B. White won at least six major awards during his lifetime, including the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1978.
What is E.B. White best known for?

E.B. White wrote the books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. Both were adapted into films.
What was E.B. White's nickname and why?

E.B. White’s nickname was Andy. He earned it during his time at Cornell University, where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society, and it stuck with him for life.
What was E.B. White's role in The Family That Dwelt Apart?

In the 1973 film The Family That Dwelt Apart, E.B. White served as the narrator. It was his only known acting credit.
What was the name of E.B. White's wife?

E.B. White’s wife was Katharine Sergeant Angell. She was also an editor at The New Yorker.
Did E.B. White have any stepchildren?

Yes, E.B. White was stepfather to Roger Angell, who became a writer and editor. Roger was the son of his wife Katharine from a previous marriage.
What is the legacy of E.B. White?

E.B. White’s books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little continue to be read. He received the Children’s Literature Legacy Award.
What award did E.B. White win in 1978?

In 1978, E.B. White was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his contributions to American letters.
What is the Hans Christian Andersen Award and did E.B. White win it?

E.B. White received the Hans Christian Andersen Award.
What books did E.B. White write?

E.B. White wrote Charlotte’s Web 1952 and Stuart Little 1945. He also wrote The Trumpet of the Swan and wrote for The New Yorker.
Was E.B. White a journalist?

Yes, E.B. White worked as a journalist and essayist for The New Yorker magazine. He contributed many pieces to the magazine over his career.
Did E.B. White serve in the military?

There is no record of E.B. White serving in the military.
What is E.B. White's most famous book?

E.B. White’s book Charlotte’s Web was published in 1952 and adapted into a 2006 film.
What did E.B. White study in college?

At Cornell University, E.B. White studied English and was involved in student publications. He graduated in 1921.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on June 4, 2026

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