Gheorghe Ciprian

George Ciprian (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdʒe̯ordʒe tʃipriˈan]; born Gheorghe Pană Constantin [ˈɡe̯orɡe ˈpanə konstanˈtin]; June 7, 1883 – 8 May 1968) was a Romanian actor and playwright. His writings make him a precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd. Born in Buzău to a Greek baker's family, he attended primary school in Glodeanu-Siliștea, a commune near Buzău, after which he moved to Bucharest with his mother. There, he attended Gheorghe Lazăr High School, together with Vasile Voiculescu, a future poet born near Buzău, and Urmuz, an absurdist writer.

After graduation, Ciprian went on to study acting at the Bucharest Conservatory, where he was coached by Constantin Nottara.

His stage debut took place in 1907 at the Craiova National Theatre, as Șoltuz in Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu's Răzvan și Vidra. He would star in many theater performances in theatres throughout Romania, and he would act in several movies.

Ciprian died in Bucharest. The only theatre in his native city, Buzău, bears his name. The theatre was inaugurated in 1996 with a performance of Omul cu mârțoaga.