Just three days after his 75th birthday, it was announced that he had won the Nobel Prize In Literature.Ģ006 – Harold Pinter confirmed that he’ll no longer write plays but will continue with poetry. He also worked on his final screenplays – adaptations of The Tragedy Of King Lear and Sleuth.Ģ005 – As his health declined, he completed his work on Sleuth and his last dramatic work for radio, Voices, was aired. He also became increasingly active in political causes, writing and presenting politically charged poetry, essays, and speeches. Despite going through treatment, he directed a production of his play No Man’s Land. His last stage play, Celebration, was written in 2000.Ģ001-2002 – In 2001, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment in 2002. He continued to be a prolific writing, actor and director. He was awarded the Society’s Award Special at the 1996 Olivier Awards. He also rediscovered his manuscript for The Hothouse which he revised and produced at the Hampstead Theatre. During this time, he started to direct more and more, as well as continuing his acting career.ġ980 – He and Vivian parted ways and Harold married his second wife, Antonia Fraser.ġ983-2000 – Following a three-year break, he started writing shorter and more politically-charged pieces. The collection of work was coined as the “memory plays”. During this time, he also wrote some of his most notable works including The Caretaker, as well as starting his career as a screenwriter.ġ968-1982 – During the next decade, he focused on writing about the complexity and ambiguity of memory. In the same year, he also wrote The Hothouse which he abandoned for 20 years. In 1958, it was staged in London where it received negative reviews and closed within a week. They had a son named Daniel in 1958.ġ957-1968 – In 1957, he wrote a short play, The Room, and wrote his first full-length drama, The Birthday Party. He then went on tour in Ireland with the Anew McMaster repertory company where he appeared on stage before joining the Donald Wolfit Company, at the King’s Theatre, Hammersmith, as an actor.ġ954-1959 – Harold Pinter took the stage name David Baron and supplemented his acting career by being a waiter, postman and a bouncer.ġ956 – He married his first wife, actress Vivien Merchant. After discovering that he hated the school, he feigned a nervous breakdown and left after just two terms.ġ949-1954 – After appearing in the pantomime Dick Whittington And His Cat at the Chesterfield Hippodrome, he attended the Central School Of Speech And Drama. He also found a mentor in his teacher Joseph Brearley, who directed him in school plays and would take long walks with him to talk about literature.ġ948 – After refusing to enlist in the military at age 18, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1950, it was published in Poetry London.ġ944-1948 – Harold Pinter’s time at the Hackney Downs School grammar school taught him the importance of male friendship. His work was first published in his school paper in 1947. This experience fuelled his work leading him to themes of loneliness, bewilderment, separation and loss.ġ942 – He began writing poetry. This is why he used the pseudonyms Pinta and de Pinto on some of his earlier work.ġ940-1941 – After witnessing some of the Blitz bombings, he and his family were evacuated to Cornwall and Reading during World War II. Growing up, he believed his family was actually Spanish – an erroneous belief held by his aunt. Along with this prestigious award, he also received over 50 other awards and accolades including the Laurence Olivier Special Award in 1996.ġ930 – Harold Pinter was born in Hackney, East London. In 2005, he won the Nobel Prize for literature just three years prior to his tragic death. These pauses were coined as Pinter Pauses – a moment of silence where words are not spoken but the meaning is abundant. Inspired by Samuel Beckett, he created his own distinct style of writing which consisted of terse dialogue and marked pauses. Often cited as one of the most influential modern British dramatists, Harold Pinter was a prolific playwright, screenwriter, actor and director whose career spanned 50 years. In remembrance of the extraordinary writer, actor, and director, we’re looking back over his life and exceptional career. This celebration of the Noble Prize-winner and, arguably, the most influential playwright of his time will take place at the theatre that’s been dedicated to him, the Harold Pinter Theatre, and kicks off tonight (6 September). To commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death, the Jamie Lloyd Company will be putting on Pinter At The Pinter: a season that showcases Harold Pinter’s one-act plays.