Harold Pinter

Date of Birth: October 10, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: December 24, 2008

Biography

Harold Pinter was an influential English dramatist, screenwriter, director, and actor, often regarded as one of the most important and influential British playwrights of the 20th century. Born in Hackney, London, Pinter began his career as an actor before turning to writing plays. His unique style, characterized by sparse dialogue, emotional pauses, and a sense of menace, earned him critical acclaim and established a genre often referred to as “Pinteresque.” Pinter’s breakthrough came with his play “The Birthday Party” (1957), which initially received negative reviews but has since become a classic. His subsequent works, including “The Caretaker” (1959), “The Homecoming” (1964), and “Betrayal” (1978), further solidified his reputation as a master of modern drama. In addition to plays, Pinter wrote screenplays for films such as “The Servant” (1963) and “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” (1981). Throughout his career, Pinter received numerous accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005. He was also known for his outspoken political views and activism, particularly against war and human rights abuses. Harold Pinter passed away on December 24, 2008, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence writers and artists worldwide.

5 Interesting Facts about Harold Pinter

1. Harold Pinter was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 for his services to literature.

2. He was also a skilled cricketer and played for the Gaieties Cricket Club.

3. Pinter’s trademark pauses in his plays are known as “Pinter pauses,” which have been widely studied and imitated.

4. He was married twice, first to actress Vivien Merchant and later to author Lady Antonia Fraser.

5. Pinter was an active political activist and critic of US and British foreign policies, particularly their actions in the Middle East.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harold Pinter

1. “One way of looking at speech is to say it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.”

2. “There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false.”

3. “The past is what you remember, imagine you remember, convince yourself you remember, or pretend you remember.”

4. “I believe that despite the enormous odds which exist, unflinching, unswerving, fierce intellectual determination, as citizens, to define the real truth of our lives and our societies is a crucial obligation which devolves upon us all.”

5. “I tend to think that cricket is the greatest thing that God ever created on earth – certainly greater than sex, although sex isn’t too bad either.”