Arthur Miller

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Born in Harlem

October 17, 1915

His parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants, and he was the second of three children. His wealthy father owned a business that manufactured women's clothing.

Black Tuesday

1929

The Miller family lost everything, and moved from uptown Manhattan to Brooklyn.

"Honors at Dawn"

1936

Miller's first play, "Honors at Dawn" earned him an Avery Hopp Award at the University of Michigan.

Graduates from University of Michigan

1938

Miller earned a B.A. in English.

Married Mary Slattery

1940

She was his college sweetheart.

"The Man Who Had All the Luck" premiers

1940

This play closed to terrible reviews after four performances, but won a Theater Guild's National Award anyway.

"All My Sons" premiers

1947

"All My Sons" opened on Broadway and was a resounding success, earning Miller a Tony.

Begins "Death of A Salesman"

1948

Miller completed Act 1 in a single day.

"Death of a Salesman" premiers

February 10, 1949

Miller's most famous play won him another Tony Award for Best Author, the New York Drama Circle Critics' Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. It is regarded as an American classic.

"The Crucible" premiers

1953

This allegorical play likened the Salem Witch Trials to the Red Scare that permeated U.S. government. It is another classic.

H.U.A.C. denies Miller a passport

1954

He was unable to attend "The Crucible's" London premiere at the insistance of the government. His run-ins with H.U.A.C. would influence his later work.

Marries Marilyn Monroe

1956

Testifies before H.U.A.C.

1956

Elia Kazan named Miller as one of eight members of the Group Theater who was allegedly a Communist Party member in 1952. Miller was questioned.

Found guilty of contempt of Congress

1957

During Miller's H.U.A.C. hearings, he was fined $500 or given a thirty day prison sentence, blacklisted, and denied a passport.

Conviction overturned by Court of Appeals

1958

It was decided that Miller was innocent, having been mislead by the chairman of H.U.A.C.

Began work on "The Misfits"

1960

The film starred his wife, Marilyn Monroe. Miller believed this to be one of the lowest points of his life, and the pair would divorce the following year.

"After the Fall" premiers

1964

This play was very personal to Miller, dealing with the dissolution of his marriage to Monroe.

Miller banned in U.S.S.R.

1969

He was banned as a dissident writer.

Miller's final play premiers

2004

Finishing the Picture, premieres at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. It was based on the filming of "The Misfits."

Died in Roxbury, Connecticut

February 10, 2005

Miller suffered congestive heart failure at his home.