One of America?s most well-known theatre critics Henry Hewes, who married a Bermudian at the end of World War II, has died aged 89.

Amongst many achievements he is credited as being the man who encouraged writer Tennessee Williams to turn his short story ?Cat On A Hot Tin Roof? into a play, which went on to become a smash hit production and Oscar-nominated movie starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor.

Mr. Hewes was a fellow classmate of future US President John F. Kennedy.

It was going to a show that was backed by Mr. Kennedy?s father, in honour of his son?s 10th birthday, that sparked Mr. Hewes interest in theatre.

The Boston-born writer served with the US military during the war and it was while stationed in Bermuda that he met his future wife Jane Fowle, of Somerset.

The couple were married at St. James Church in Somerset Parish on August 21, 1945 and then moved to New York City but remained regular visitors to the Island.

Mr. Hewes made a name for himself in the US where he became a long-time theatre critic for The Saturday Review magazine, serving as chief critic from 1955 to 1973, previously he had written for the Sunday arts pages of the New York Times.

He also founded the American Theater Critics Association in 1974 and helped to establish the ?Tony Award? for regional theatre groups.

Mr. Hewes was a past president of the New York Drama Critics Circle and edited the ?Best Plays? anthology from 1960 to 1964.

Mr. Hewes is survived by his wife Jane, his sons Henry, Tucker and Havelock and six grandchildren.