Arthur Asher Miller, born on October 17, 1915, was a prominent essayist and playwright in the American theater throughout the twentieth century. He was born in Harlem, New York City, and grew up in the city's Lower East Side. Miller was of Polish-Jewish descent and attended the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School for his primary and secondary education. He furthered his education by graduating from the City College of New York and Brooklyn Law School, and later earning a Master's in Law from New York University.
Miller is renowned for his works in American drama, which include notable pieces such as "Death of a Salesman" (1949), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, and "The Crucible" (1953). His other celebrated works include "A View from the Bridge" and "All My Sons," which are still widely studied and performed worldwide. In addition to his contributions to literature, Miller was also a prominent figure in cinema and made headlines for his refusal to give evidence to the un-American activities committee of the House of Representatives. He also had the honor of being married to the iconic actress, Marilyn Monroe.
Arthur Miller's personal life was as impressive as his professional accomplishments. He married Ronnie Hershcopf in 1967 and had four children with her. The family lived in New York until 1971 when they moved to Brooklyn, where Miller donated his time to represent members of the Jewish Defense League in their struggle for Soviet Jewry. He also worked as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Taxation at Pace University in New York. In 1973, Miller was transferred to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he became a partner in an international accounting firm and later joined a nearly 200-year-old-law firm, Fletcher Tilton, in 1991. After making aliyah in 2004, Miller and his wife Ronnie settled in Beit Shemesh, Israel, where they lived out their days surrounded by their children and grandchildren.