Profile of the Day: Arthur Miller

On this day in 1915, American playwright Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York.

Image: Arthur Miller / Nationaal Archief

Arthur Asher Miller was born to Augusta Barnett and Isidore Miller. His father owned a successful women’s clothing manufacturing business and the family lived a comfortable lifestyle until nearly losing everything during the Great Depression.

In 1956, he married for the second time to actress Marilyn Monroe. Their high profile relationship thrusted him into the Hollywood spotlight. Shortly after, he was called to appear before the House of Un-American Activities Committee after his passport renewal was refused. He had previously written the play, The Crucible, a dramatization of the Salem witch trials, as an allegory for McCarthyism. During his questioning, the committee demanded Miller “out” names of Communist sympathizers. He refused and was found in contempt of Congress and blacklisted. In 1958, his conviction was overturned by the court of appeals.

Considered one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th century, Miller won accolades for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for his play, Death of a Salesman.

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