Runyon, Damon (Alfred Damon Runyon), 1884-1946, American short story writer and journalist, b. Manhattan, Kans. He is best known for his humorous stories—written in a picturesque, slangy journalistic idiom (often referred to as Runyonese)—about New York City's Broadway and underworld characters. Collections of his works include Guys and Dolls (1931), Blue Plate Special (1934), Money from Home (1935), and Runyon à la Carte (1944). The musical Guys and Dolls (1950) was based on Runyon's stories.

(born Oct. 4, 1884, Manhattan, Kan., U.S.—died Dec. 10, 1946, New York, N.Y.) U.S. journalist and short-story writer. He served in the Spanish-American War as a teenager. After returning to the U.S. he wrote for newspapers in the West. In 1911 he moved to New York, where he developed a style focusing on the underside of city life and began to write stories. He is best known for Guys and Dolls (1931), a collection of stories about a racy section of Broadway written in the uniquely rendered slang that became his trademark and gave rise to the term Runyonesque; the book was adapted as a musical by Frank Loesser (1950).

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In Greek mythology, the legend of Damon and Pythias symbolizes trust and loyalty in a true friendship. The use of "Damon" as a first name derives from this Damon, and can refer to:

Places

• Damon, Texas

People

Given name

• Damon Albarn (b. 1968), British songwriter and musician
• Damon Dash (b. 1971), an American music industry executive
• Damon Hill (b. 1960), former Formula One driver and 1996 World Champion
• Damon Knight, American Science Fiction writer
• Damon Lindelof (b. 1973), American television writer and executive
• Damon Runyon (1884–1946), newspaperman and writer
• Damon Stoudamire (b. 1973), an American basketball player
• Damon Wayans (b. 1960), an American comedic actor
• Damon Britton (b. 1964), 1st British Psychiatric Nurse Prescriber

Surname

• Gabriel Damon (b. 1976), an American film actor
• Johnny Damon (b. 1973), American Major League baseball player
• Mark Damon (b. 1933), an American film actor and producer
• Matt Damon (b. 1970), American film actor and screenwriter
• S. Foster Damon (1893–1971), the American academic and poet
• William Damon (b. 1944), psychologist and educator

Other

• Damon (mythology), a character in Greek mythology
• Damon (ancient Greek musicologist), an ancient Athenian musicologist
• Damon of Thessalonica, an ancient Macedonian statesman
• Damon (novel), by C Terry Cline
• Damon (TV series), sitcom starring Damon Wayans
• Damon Records, 1940s record label
• Damon's Grill, an American chain restaurant
• one of the South Devon Railway Comet class steam locomotives
• Draper's and Damon's, a women's clothing retailer since 1927
• Damon Creations, Inc., a men's clothing manufacturer formerly traded on the American Stock Exchange