Theo Aronson

Theo Aronson (1929-2004) Writer, actor and playwright.

He was born in the Eastern Cape on 14 November 1929 and educated at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth. After school, Aronson spent four years at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town. In 1979 he left his cottage in Kommetjie, Cape Town, and settled in the market town of Frome, Somerset, England where he died in May 2003 at the age of 73.

He became one of the most successful and respected authors of books about European and British royalty.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Starred in Leonard Schach’s production of The Young Elizabeth for the Johannesburg Reps in 1953. It was based on the life of Elizabeth I and was to mark the coronation of Elizabeth II. He went on to make his mark with a series of biographies chronicling the lives of the British royals.

He wrote the play Mr Rhodes and the Princess.