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He was born Edward Everett Tanner III in Chicago. His best known book Auntie Mame, which recalled his adventures growing up as the ward of his father's madcap sister. (Although Dennis claimed the work was autobiographical, in reality Tanner was raised by both his parents.) It was adapted into a Broadway play and musical ( Mame), with a score by Jerry Herman), both of which were brought to the screen.

Dennis also wrote Little Me, a novel about eccentric woman named Belle Poitrine and the many loves in her life. It too served as the source of a Broadway musical, with a book by Neil Simon and a score by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh.