Radu Beligan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Radu Beligan
Radu Beligan on a stamp from 2006
Born	(1918-12-14)14 December 1918 Galbeni, Bacău County, Romania
Died	20 July 2016(2016-07-20) (aged 97) "Elias" Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
Resting place	Bellu Cemetery
Nationality	Romanian
Occupation	Actor, director, essayist
Years active	1937–2016
Political party	PCR (1962–1989)
Spouse(s)	Nineta Gusti Dana Crivăț Marica Beligan
Children	4
Awards	Order of the Star of Romania, Grand Cross class

Radu Beligan (born December 14, 1918 – died July 20, 2016) was a very famous Romanian actor, director, and writer. He worked for over 70 years in theatre, movies, TV, and radio.

On December 15, 2013, he was named "The oldest active theatre actor" in the world by Guinness World Records. This was a huge achievement! In 2004, he became an honorary member of the Romanian Academy.

Radu Beligan learned from great artists like actress Lucia Sturdza-Bulandra and writer Eugène Ionesco. He is seen as one of the most important people in Romanian theatre. He performed in many classic and modern plays, both in Romania and other countries.

About Radu Beligan's Life

Radu Beligan cultural center in Filipești, his hometown

Beligan getting a star on Walk of Fame Bucharest, March 28, 2011

Radu Beligan was born in Galbeni. This is a village in Bacău County, Romania. His father was Romanian, and his mother had Greek family roots.

In an interview from 2011, Radu Beligan shared some interesting family facts. He said his grandmother, Ecaterina Beligan, was a cousin of the famous writer Ion Creangă. His mother, Eufrosina Moscopol, was related to Jean Moscopol, a well-known singer from before World War II.

After finishing high school in Iași in 1937, he went to Bucharest. He studied acting at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. There, he was taught by Lucia Sturdza-Bulandra, a very important person in Romanian theatre. From 1937 to 1938, he also studied law and philosophy at the University of Bucharest. He used a scholarship to pay for his studies at the Conservatory.

Radu Beligan's Family Life

Radu Beligan was married three times. His first wife was Nineta Gusti, who was also an actress. They were married for 15 years.

His second wife was Dana Crivăț (1933–2012). They had a daughter named Ana Maria, who became a writer. In 1982, both Dana and Ana Maria moved to Germany and then to Australia.

His third wife was Marica Beligan (who passed away in 1993). She was a writer. They had three children together: Lamia (born in 1966), who is an actress, Raluca, and Alexandru. Alexandru works at the National Bank of Romania.

Radu Beligan's Public Roles

Radu Beligan was involved in public life in Romania. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party from 1969 to 1989. He was also a representative in the Great National Assembly from 1961 to 1975. This assembly was like the parliament of Romania at that time.

Radu Beligan's Career Highlights

Radu Beligan started acting in theatre when he was 20 years old. His first play was Crime and Punishment in Bucharest. His first movie role was in A Stormy Night in 1943. His last movie was The Afternoon of a Torturer in 2001.

He also taught at the Institute of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. He was the director of the Comedy Theatre from 1961 to 1969. Later, he led the National Theatre from 1969 to 1990.

In 2008, he received a very high honor, the Order of the Star of Romania, Grand Cross class.

Plays Radu Beligan Acted In

Movies Radu Beligan Appeared In