-
Birth of Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter (Playwright, screenwriter, actor, theatre director, poet) was born on 10 October 1930, in Hackney, east London, the only child of British Jewish parents of Eastern European descent: his father, Hyman "Jack" Pinter (1902–1997) was a ladies' tailor; his mother, Frances (née Moskowitz; 1904–1992), a housewife. -
Period: to
Attended Hackney Downs School
Pinter discovered his social potential as a student at Hackney Downs School, a London grammar school. There he develop his passion for literature and drama. He also found a mentor, his teacher, Joseph Brearley, who directed him in school plays. -
Period: to
First poems
However, Pinter's first poems were published in 1947 in the school magazine of Hackney Downs. His early poems were published in Poetry London in August 1950. He continued to write poems throughout his life, and his first collection of poems was published in 1968, included poems from little magazines in the 1950s. -
Political Activism
When Pinter was 18 years old he opposed the politics of the Cold War, leading to his decision to become a conscientious objector and to refuse to comply with National Service in the British military. -
Period: to
Attended Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
He was admitted to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a grant, but he left after two terms. He disliked his time at RADA and frequently missed classes. He left the program after faking a nervous breakdown. -
Central School of Speech and Drama experience
At the end of the spring term in Central School of Speech and Drama, Pinter was hired by Anew McMaster for a Shakespeare tour around Ireland. During that tour he discovered Samuel Beckett, another influential figure. While writing both poetry and novels, he decided to adopt a stage name: David Baron. -
Period: to
Failed Marriage
In 1956 Pinter married an English actress, Vivien Merchant and had a son, Daniel, born in 1958. He left Merchant in 1975 and married a British author, Lady Antonia Fraser in 1980. While, being married to Fraser he enjoyed his life with six adult stepchildren and 17 step-grandchildren. -
Influenced writing
Harold believed in the importance of performance achieved in film—he was influenced by the actors of his youth like Robert Newton—and he was moved by films such as Napoléon, Abel Gance’s silent classic. -
Health issues
Pinter learned he had cancer of the esophagus in late 2001. Esophageal cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. He also suffered from pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease. -
Dead of Harold Pinter
Pinter died on December 24, 2008 at age 78 years in Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom by cancer.