Arthur Miller

Date of Birth: October 17, 1915

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: February 10, 2005

Biography

Arthur Miller was an American playwright and essayist, born on October 17, 1915, in Harlem, New York City. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller’s career spanned over seven decades, and he is best known for his plays such as “Death of a Salesman,” “The Crucible,” “A View from the Bridge,” and “All My Sons.” His works often tackled social and political issues, reflecting his deep concern for the human condition and the American society. Miller’s early life was marked by financial hardship due to the Great Depression, which deeply influenced his writing. He attended the University of Michigan, where he began to hone his craft as a playwright. His breakthrough came in 1947 with “All My Sons,” which earned him critical acclaim and his first Tony Award. In 1949, Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” debuted on Broadway and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play is considered a classic of American theater and has been revived numerous times. Miller continued to write plays, essays, and screenplays throughout his life, addressing themes of morality, identity, and societal expectations. Miller’s personal life was also notable, including his marriage to Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961. He was a staunch advocate for freedom of expression and faced scrutiny during the McCarthy-era Red Scare for his political beliefs. Arthur Miller passed away on February 10, 2005, in Roxbury, Connecticut, but his legacy as a towering figure in American literature and theater endures.

5 Interesting Facts about Arthur Miller

1. Arthur Miller was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 for “Death of a Salesman.”

2. He was married to Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961.

3. Miller was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy era and refused to name others who were involved in communist activities.

4. “The Crucible,” one of his most famous plays, is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials as an allegory for McCarthyism.

5. Miller’s works have been translated into several languages and continue to be produced worldwide.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Arthur Miller

1. “I think the job of the artist is to remind people of what they have chosen to forget.”

2. “The structure of a play is always the story of how the birds came home to roost.”

3. “Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.”

4. “The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it’s so accidental. It’s so much like life.”

5. “Betrayal is the only truth that sticks.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Arthur Miller’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Arthur Miller had four children: 1. Jane Ellen Miller (daughter with Mary Slattery) 2. Robert A. Miller (son with Mary Slattery) 3. Rebecca Miller (daughter with Inge Morath, a filmmaker and the wife of actor Daniel Day-Lewis) 4. Daniel Miller (son with Inge Morath)