Born: 26 November 1909 · Died: 28 March 1994 · Age at death: 84
How old was Eugène Ionesco when he died?
Eugène Ionesco died aged 84. He was born on 26 November 1909 and died on 28 March 1994.
French-Romanian playwright and key figure of Theatre of the Absurd
Did you know?He was inspired to write his first play after trying to learn English using a book that featured nonsensical, repetitive dialogue.
Quick facts
Date of birth26 November 1909
Date of death28 March 1994
Age at death84
NationalityRomanian-French
BirthplaceSlatina, Romania
Occupationplaywright, poet, literary critic
Editor's Take:
Eugène Ionesco found comedy in the breakdown of language. He was inspired by the stiff phrases of an English textbook. In The Bald Soprano, polite small talk turns into nonsense. In Rhinoceros, the people of a town turn into rhinos one by one. The play reflects the spread of fascism he had seen in 1930s Romania. His plays are funny and frightening at the same time. They remain staples of school and student theatre worldwide.
Key Milestones
1950: The Bald Soprano premieres
1952: The Chairs premieres
1959: Rhinoceros premieres
1970: Elected to the Académie française
Eugène Ionesco (French:; born Eugen Ionescu, Romanian:; 26 November 1909 – 28 March 1994) was a Romanian-French playwright who wrote mostly in French, and was one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde theatre in the 20th century.
Eugène Ionesco's birthday is November 26. He was born on November 26, 1909 in Slatina, Romania.
How old was Eugène Ionesco when he died?
Eugène Ionesco died on March 28, 1994, aged 84.
Who shares a birthday with Eugène Ionesco?
Famous people who share Eugène Ionesco's November 26 birthday include Tina Turner, Ferdinand de Saussure, Elizabeth Blackburn, Rita Ora and Norbert Wiener.
