Birth Place: ENGLAND
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Harold Pinter was an English playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor, widely regarded as one of the most influential and important dramatists of the 20th century. Born in Hackney, East London, on October 10, 1930, Pinter grew up in a working-class Jewish family. He attended Hackney Downs School, where he excelled in English literature and drama, and later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Pinter's early career was marked by a series of odd jobs, including working as a waiter, a sweeper, and a repertory actor. In 1957, he achieved his breakthrough as a playwright with his first full-length play, The Birthday Party, which premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. The play was initially panned by critics, but it later became recognized as a masterpiece of modern drama.
Pinter's subsequent plays, including The Caretaker (1960), The Homecoming (1965), and Betrayal (1978), established him as a major force in the theatre world. His plays are known for their sparse, elliptical dialogue, their use of silence and pauses, and their exploration of power dynamics and human relationships. Pinter's work has been described as a blend of comedy and menace, a reflection of the absurdity and brutality of modern life.
In addition to his work as a playwright, Pinter was also a prolific screenwriter, penning scripts for films such as The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), The Handmaid's Tale (1990), and Sleuth (2007). He also directed several of his own plays, as well as films and television productions.
Pinter was a vocal political activist, and his work often reflected his left-wing views. He was a staunch critic of American foreign policy, particularly in relation to the Iraq War, and he was a member of the Stop the War Coalition. In 2005, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, in recognition of his "unmistakable voice, that with a minimum of means, captures the underlying universal truths of human existence."
Pinter's stage work was also recognized with numerous awards and accolades. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play for The Caretaker and The Homecoming, and he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play for Betrayal. He was also awarded the Companion of Honour in 2002, and the BAFTA Fellowship in 2005.
Pinter's legacy continues to influence contemporary theatre, film, and literature. His plays are regularly produced around the world, and his screenplays are studied in film schools and universities. His influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary playwrights, including David Mamet and Martin McDonagh.
Despite his success and critical acclaim, Pinter remained a private and enigmatic figure. He was married to actress Vivien Merchant from 1956 to 1980, and later to author Antonia Fraser. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2001, but continued to work and write until his death on December 24, 2008.
In conclusion, Harold Pinter was a towering figure in 20th-century theatre, whose work continues to captivate and challenge audiences. His plays and screenplays are marked by their distinctive style and their exploration of power, politics, and human relationships. Pinter's legacy is a testament to the enduring power of art to illuminate and transform the world around us.
[1963]The Servant People in restaurant: Society Man
[1963]The Guest writer
[1964]The Pumpkin Eater writer
[1966]The Quiller Memorandum writer
[1966]Modesty Blaise writer
[1967]Accident Bell - TV Producer
[1968]The Birthday Party writer
[1970]The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Steven Hench
[1971]The Go-Between writer
[1973]The Homecoming writer
[1976]The Last Tycoon writer
[1981]The French Lieutenant's Woman writer
[1983]Betrayal writer
[1985]Turtle Diary Man in Bookshop
[1989]Reunion writer
[1990]The Comfort of Strangers writer
[1990]The Handmaid's Tale writer
[1993]The Trial writer
[1997]Mojo Sam Ross
[1999]Mansfield Park Sir Thom Bertram
[2001]The Tailor of Panama Uncle Benny
[2007]Sleuth Man on T.V.
Harold Pinter, The Collection & A Kind of Alaska
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold PinterNo Man's Land
Harold PinterQuartermaine's Terms
Harold Pinter, Betrayal
Harold PinterBetrayal
Harold Pinter, No Man's Land
Harold Pinter, No Man's Land
Harold Pinter, Old Times
Harold Pinter, Old Times
Harold Pinter, The Man in the Glass Booth
Harold Pinter, The Homecoming
Harold Pinter, The Homecoming
Harold Pinter, The Caretaker
Harold PinterThe Caretaker
Harold Pinter has written 22 shows including The Pinter Plays (Playwright), Play/ The Lover (Playwright), The New Pinter Plays (Playwright), The Birthday Party (Playwright), Tea Party/ The Basement (Playwright), The Local Stigmatic (Playwright), Landscape/ Silence (Playwright), Old Times (Playwright), The Homecoming (Playwright), No Man's Land (Playwright), The Hothouse (Playwright), Old Times (Playwright), Other Places (Playwright), The Birthday Party (Playwright), Mountain Language (Playwright), Moonlight (Playwright), Ashes to Ashes (Playwright), Betrayal (Playwright), The Caretaker (Playwright), Celebration and The Room (Playwright), The Homecoming (Playwright), The Collection & A Kind of Alaska: Two Plays by Harold Pinter (Playwright).
Harold Pinter has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of the notable nominations include Outstanding Revival at The Lortels for The Collection & A Kind of Alaska, Lebedev Special Award at the Evening Standard Awards, Outstanding Lifetime Achievement at The Lortels, The Society's Special Award at the Olivier Awards, Best Revival of a Play or Comedy at the Olivier Awards for No Man's Land, Director of the Year at the Olivier Awards for Quartermaine's Terms, Best Foreign Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Betrayal, Play of the Year at the Olivier Awards for Betrayal, Best New Foreign Play at the Drama Desk Awards for No Man's Land, Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for No Man's Land, Best Foreign Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Old Times, Best Play at the Tony Awards for Old Times, Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for The Man in the Glass Booth, Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for The Homecoming, Best Play at the Tony Awards for The Homecoming, Best Play at the Tony Awards for The Caretaker, and Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for The Caretaker.
Harold Pinter has won several awards throughout his career. These include the Lebedev Special Award at the Evening Standard Awards, the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement award at The Lortels, and The Society's Special Award at the Olivier Awards. He also won the Best Foreign Play award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for his play "Betrayal," and the Play of the Year award at the Olivier Awards for the same play. Pinter also received the Best Play award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "The Homecoming," the Best Play award at the Tony Awards for "The Homecoming," and the Best Play award at the Evening Standard Awards for "The Caretaker."
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