Let's make this birthday one to remember.

78 years old (Born on November 30, 1947)

Happy birthday, David Mamet! We're all hoping your celebrations involve more cake-cutting than cost-cutting—no Glengarry leads necessary here. May today's party be filled with a lot less drama than Shelley Levene begging for decent sales or Ricky Roma artfully dodging responsibilities.

Whether you're penning sharp-tongued dialogues that leave characters stunned or creating narratives so intense they make us rethink our coffee addictions forever ("Coffee's for closers," indeed), thanks for influencing theater and film in ways only you can. Here's to celebrating another spectacular year ahead where the stakes stay high—but luckily not as ruthless—as your unforgettable scripts!