WRITER
Athol Fugard
1932 - 2025

Athol Fugard
Harold Athol Lanigan Fugard (; 11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025) was a South African playwright, novelist, actor and director. Widely regarded as South Africa's greatest playwright and acclaimed as "the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world" by Time magazine in 1985, he published more than thirty plays. He is best known for his political and penetrating plays opposing the system of apartheid, some of which have been adapted to film. His novel Tsotsi was adapted as a film of the same name, which won an Academy Award in 2005. Read more on Wikipedia
Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Athol Fugard has received more than 623,606 page views. His biography is available in 24 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 21 in 2019). Athol Fugard is the 6,268th most popular writer (down from 5,830th in 2019), the 195th most popular biography from South Africa (down from 185th in 2019) and the 16th most popular South African Writer.
Memorability Metrics
620k
Page Views (PV)
49.99
Historical Popularity Index (HPI)
24
Languages Editions (L)
1.94
Effective Languages (L*)
4.01
Coefficient of Variation (CV)
Among WRITERS
Among writers, Athol Fugard ranks 6,268 out of 7,302. Before him are Philip G. Epstein, Matti Yrjänä Joensuu, Derek Taylor, Lauren Weisberger, Renata Viganò, and Gita Mehta. After him are Ingvar Ambjørnsen, George Farquhar, Howard Jacobson, Mah Laqa Bai, Róža Domašcyna, and Lloyd C. Douglas.
Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsPhilip G. Epstein
1909 - 1952
HPI: 50.03
Rank: 6,262
Matti Yrjänä Joensuu
1948 - 2011
HPI: 50.03
Rank: 6,263
Derek Taylor
1932 - 1997
HPI: 50.02
Rank: 6,264
Lauren Weisberger
1977 - Present
HPI: 50.00
Rank: 6,265
Renata Viganò
1900 - 1976
HPI: 50.00
Rank: 6,266
Gita Mehta
1943 - 2023
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 6,267
Athol Fugard
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 6,268
Ingvar Ambjørnsen
1956 - Present
HPI: 49.98
Rank: 6,269
George Farquhar
1677 - 1707
HPI: 49.97
Rank: 6,270
Howard Jacobson
1942 - Present
HPI: 49.96
Rank: 6,271
Mah Laqa Bai
1768 - 1824
HPI: 49.96
Rank: 6,272
Róža Domašcyna
1951 - Present
HPI: 49.96
Rank: 6,273
Lloyd C. Douglas
1877 - 1951
HPI: 49.96
Rank: 6,274
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1932, Athol Fugard ranks 518. Before him are Slide Hampton, Daniel Kleppner, Poul Pedersen, Derek Taylor, Barbara Shelley, and Vitold Kreyer. After him are Robert L. Forward, Danny Hodge, Coxsone Dodd, Gennadiy Shatkov, Bob Lutz, and Mae Faggs. Among people deceased in 2025, Athol Fugard ranks 65. Before him are Ayla Erduran, Norair Nurikyan, Pamela Bach, Mike Ratledge, Maria Teresa Horta, and Dick Button. After him are Barbie Hsu, Greg Bell, David Johansen, Brian Murphy, Thelma Hopkins, and Julius Chan.
Others Born in 1932
Go to all RankingsSlide Hampton
MUSICIAN
1932 - 2021
HPI: 50.15
Rank: 512
Daniel Kleppner
PHYSICIST
1932 - Present
HPI: 50.13
Rank: 513
Poul Pedersen
SOCCER PLAYER
1932 - 2016
HPI: 50.08
Rank: 514
Derek Taylor
WRITER
1932 - 1997
HPI: 50.02
Rank: 515
Barbara Shelley
ACTOR
1932 - 2021
HPI: 50.00
Rank: 516
Vitold Kreyer
ATHLETE
1932 - 2020
HPI: 50.00
Rank: 517
Athol Fugard
WRITER
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 518
Robert L. Forward
PHYSICIST
1932 - 2002
HPI: 49.93
Rank: 519
Danny Hodge
WRESTLER
1932 - 2020
HPI: 49.90
Rank: 520
Coxsone Dodd
PRODUCER
1932 - 2004
HPI: 49.89
Rank: 521
Gennadiy Shatkov
BOXER
1932 - 2009
HPI: 49.85
Rank: 522
Bob Lutz
BUSINESSPERSON
1932 - Present
HPI: 49.84
Rank: 523
Mae Faggs
ATHLETE
1932 - 2000
HPI: 49.83
Rank: 524
Others Deceased in 2025
Go to all RankingsAyla Erduran
MUSICIAN
1934 - 2025
HPI: 51.82
Rank: 59
Norair Nurikyan
ATHLETE
1948 - 2025
HPI: 51.66
Rank: 60
Pamela Bach
ACTOR
1963 - 2025
HPI: 51.45
Rank: 61
Mike Ratledge
MUSICIAN
1943 - 2025
HPI: 51.30
Rank: 62
Maria Teresa Horta
WRITER
1937 - 2025
HPI: 50.49
Rank: 63
Dick Button
SKATER
1929 - 2025
HPI: 50.05
Rank: 64
Athol Fugard
WRITER
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 65
Barbie Hsu
ACTOR
1976 - 2025
HPI: 49.92
Rank: 66
Greg Bell
ATHLETE
1930 - 2025
HPI: 49.54
Rank: 67
David Johansen
SINGER
1950 - 2025
HPI: 49.52
Rank: 68
Brian Murphy
ACTOR
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.23
Rank: 69
Thelma Hopkins
ATHLETE
1936 - 2025
HPI: 48.63
Rank: 70
Julius Chan
POLITICIAN
1939 - 2025
HPI: 48.26
Rank: 71
In South Africa
Among people born in South Africa, Athol Fugard ranks 195 out of 454. Before him are Roger Michell (1956), Steven Pienaar (1982), Reeva Steenkamp (1983), Clarence Walker (1898), Mzilikazi (1790), and Leal (null). After him are Karel Schoeman (1939), Griselda Pollock (1949), Florence Fuller (1867), Charlbi Dean (1990), Baleka Mbete (1949), and Govan Mbeki (1910).
Others born in South Africa
Go to all RankingsRoger Michell
FILM DIRECTOR
1956 - 2021
HPI: 50.39
Rank: 189
Steven Pienaar
SOCCER PLAYER
1982 - Present
HPI: 50.36
Rank: 190
Reeva Steenkamp
MODEL
1983 - 2013
HPI: 50.34
Rank: 191
Clarence Walker
ATHLETE
1898 - 1957
HPI: 50.26
Rank: 192
Mzilikazi
POLITICIAN
1790 - 1868
HPI: 50.25
Rank: 193
Leal
ATHLETE
HPI: 50.04
Rank: 194
Athol Fugard
WRITER
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 195
Karel Schoeman
WRITER
1939 - 2017
HPI: 49.88
Rank: 196
Griselda Pollock
HISTORIAN
1949 - Present
HPI: 49.87
Rank: 197
Florence Fuller
PAINTER
1867 - 1946
HPI: 49.86
Rank: 198
Charlbi Dean
ACTOR
1990 - 2022
HPI: 49.80
Rank: 199
Baleka Mbete
POLITICIAN
1949 - Present
HPI: 49.80
Rank: 200
Govan Mbeki
POLITICIAN
1910 - 2001
HPI: 49.78
Rank: 201
Among WRITERS In South Africa
Among writers born in South Africa, Athol Fugard ranks 16. Before him are Deon Meyer (1958), Ingrid Jonker (1933), Alan Paton (1903), Andrew Murray (1828), Elsa Joubert (1922), and Antjie Krog (1952). After him are Karel Schoeman (1939), Damon Galgut (1963), Bessie Head (1937), John Langalibalele Dube (1871), Fatima Meer (1928), and Es'kia Mphahlele (1919).
Deon Meyer
1958 - Present
HPI: 56.00
Rank: 10
Ingrid Jonker
1933 - 1965
HPI: 55.99
Rank: 11
Alan Paton
1903 - 1988
HPI: 54.87
Rank: 12
Andrew Murray
1828 - 1917
HPI: 53.63
Rank: 13
Elsa Joubert
1922 - 2020
HPI: 51.77
Rank: 14
Antjie Krog
1952 - Present
HPI: 50.95
Rank: 15
Athol Fugard
1932 - 2025
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 16
Karel Schoeman
1939 - 2017
HPI: 49.88
Rank: 17
Damon Galgut
1963 - Present
HPI: 49.55
Rank: 18
Bessie Head
1937 - 1986
HPI: 48.22
Rank: 19
John Langalibalele Dube
1871 - 1946
HPI: 47.63
Rank: 20
Fatima Meer
1928 - 2010
HPI: 44.61
Rank: 21
Es'kia Mphahlele
1919 - 2008
HPI: 42.89
Rank: 22