His play, "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre was awarded the 1987 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Production.
At the time of his sudden and violent death, he was involved in writing an original film screenplay for the Beatles, intended as the follow-up to "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!"; but the project was abandoned after his murder.
Whilst struggling to succeed as a playwright in London, Joe Orton was living on National Assistance at £2 10 shillings a week.
In his diaries, he admitted to struggling with his partner Kenneth Halliwell's depression.
Was the subject for a documentary from the BBC TV series, "Arena.".
Took elocution lessons during his formative years.
Became good friends with actor Kenneth Williams, within the last year of Joe Orton's life.