 He is the son of Jewish immigrants, Irene (Sperling) and Abraham Schisgal, a tailor.Schisgal won his first recognition for the 1963 off-Broadway double-bill "The Typists" and "The Tiger", which received the Drama Desk Award.His 1965 Broadway debut, "Luv", was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play and for Best Author of a Play.