Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town

Date: 9 Nov 1934
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town

Ronald Harwood was born Ronald Horwitz in Cape Town on 9 November 1934. He left Cape Town for London to pursue a career on stage. In London, he received stage training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He changed his name to Harwood under the advice of an English master, who felt that the name sounded too foreign and Jewish; which did not sound good for a stage actor. In 1961 Harwood published his first novel, All the same shadows. The novel would be the first of many. He also wrote many screenplays for many famous Hollywood films, including “the diving bell” and “the butterfly”, which won him a BAFTA Award. Harwood was knighted in 2010 for his service to theatre.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01 IMDB Ronald Harwood [online] Available at: www.imdb.com [Accessed on 29 October 2012]
02Hollywood Ronald Harwood [online] Available at: www.hollywood.com [Accessed on 29 October 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, October 31). Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093953

South African History Online (2012) 'Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town', South African History Online, 31 October. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093953 (Accessed: 22 August 2026).

South African History Online, Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093953, (accessed 22 August 2026).

"Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town." South African History Online, 31 Oct. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093953. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Author and playwright Ronald Harwood is born in Cape Town." South African History Online. October 31, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093953.