Who is Aleck Woolcott from Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell Is This? and what is their importance?

Woolcott was The New York Times' drama critic and original founder of the Algonquin Round Table. Woolcott adored a captive audience and he was extremely famous during his time. He held court with hundreds of devotees ranging from The Marx brothers to Eleanor Roosevelt. To many, he was somewhat of an acquired taste, and was renowned for his bitchiness. It was said that entering into a conversation with him was akin to petting a surly and overfed Persian cat. Woolcott always considered Dorothy the greatest female wit of the age and was delighted to have her as a member of the Round Table.