Origins & Early Life

Patrick Süskind (German: [ˈpatʁɪk ˈzyːskɪnt] ; born 26 March 1949) is a German writer and screenwriter, known best for his novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, first published in 1985. Süskind was born in Ambach, Bavaria. His father was writer and journalist, Wilhelm Emanuel Süskind, who worked for the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and was a co-author of the well-known book Aus dem Wörterbuch des Unmenschen (From the Dictionary of an Inhuman), a critical collection of essays concerning the language of the Nazi era. His mother, Annemarie Süskind, née Schmitt, was a sports teacher; his older brother Martin Erhard Süskind (1944–2009) was a journalist and speechwriter.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After his qualification testing for university and his mandatory community service, Süskind studied medieval and modern history at LMU Munich and two semesters in Aix-en-Provence from 1968 to 1974, but never graduated. Funded by his parents, he relocated to Paris, where he wrote "mainly short, unpublished fiction and longer screenplays which were not made into films". In 1981, he had his first major success with the play Der Kontrabaß (The Double Bass), which was conceived originally as a...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Alice Bailey — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Alan Arkin — Shared historical date (03-26 · Born) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• Alan Silvestri — Shared historical date (03-26 · Born) (1950): Award-winning composer renowned for epic film scores, especially for blockbuster franchises.
• Amadeo Giannini — Historical peer (Died in 1949) (1949): Pioneering American banker who founded the Bank of Italy and influenced modern finance.
• Andy Kaufman — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Pioneering performance artist known for anti-comedy and character work.
• Alexander Ovechkin — Historical peer (Born in 1985) (1985): Iconic Russian left winger and captain for the Washington Capitals.
• Billy Magnussen — Historical peer (Born in 1985) (1985): American actor known for film roles in 'Aladdin' and 'Bridge of Spies'
• Aimee Semple McPherson — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Pioneering Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• March 26 (03-26) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 26