Born: 15 January 1622 · Died: 16 February 1673 · Age at death: 51
How old was Molière when he died?
Molière died aged 51. He was born on 15 January 1622 and died on 16 February 1673.
French playwright and actor whose comedies, including Tartuffe and The Misanthrope, satirised hypocrisy and remain classics of the stage
Did you know?He collapsed on stage during a performance of his final play and died shortly after, still dressed in his costume.
Quick facts
Date of birth15 January 1622
Date of death16 February 1673
Age at death51
Cause of deathTuberculosis
NationalityFrench
BirthplaceParis, France
Occupationplaywright, stage actor, poet
Editor's Take:
Molière is the giant of French comedy, so central to the language that French is sometimes called 'the language of Molière'. Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, he gave up a comfortable career path to tour the provinces with a struggling theatre troupe. His plays, such as Tartuffe and The Miser, mock hypocrisy, greed and pretension so sharply that some were banned or attacked by powerful critics. He enjoyed the support of King Louis XIV, which helped protect him. His comic characters are still staged regularly, and many have entered everyday French speech.
Key Milestones
1643: Co-founds the Illustre Théâtre
1658: Performs for Louis XIV
1662: The School for Wives causes a scandal
1664: Tartuffe is banned
1666: The Misanthrope premieres
1673: Collapses on stage in The Imaginary Invalid
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (French pronunciation:; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (UK:, US:; French: ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world literature.
Molière's birthday is January 15. He was born on January 15, 1622 in Paris, France.
How old was Molière when he died?
Molière died on February 16, 1673, aged 51.
Who shares a birthday with Molière?
Famous people who share Molière's January 15 birthday include Martin Luther King Jr., Gamal Abdel Nasser, Giorgia Meloni, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Ibn Saud.
