Frayn, Michael (1933– )

English writer. A writer of comedy and farce blended with seriousness, he has been successful as a playwright with works such as Noises Off (1982), Benefactors (1984), Copenhagen (1998), and Democracy (2003); and as a novelist with The Tin Men (1965), Headlong (1999), and Spies (2002). He has translated plays by Russian writer Anton Chekhov, and has also written scripts for film and television.

Frayn was born in London, England, and educated at Cambridge University. He began his career as a reporter for the Guardian 1957–59, and was a columnist for both the Guardian and the Observer 1962–68. Collections of his columns include The Day of the Dog (1962) and At Bay in Gear Street (1967).