This article documents the life of playwright, Joe Orton, & his lover, Kenneth Halliwell. Each of their difficult childhoods is detailed. When they met, they were both poor, struggling actors; however, as Joe became a successful writer, Ken felt jealous & believed he was a failure. In 1967, Ken beat Joe to death & then committed suicide. The author asserts that Joe may have been unconsciously suicidal, since there were many signs of Ken’s anger & violence. (VM)