Dem Rădulescu (21 September 1931 – 17 September 2000) was a Romanian theatre, film and television actor, and academic. He was also a professor at the Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest.

Personal life

Rădulescu was born in Râmnicu Vâlcea in a family of merchants. After graduating from the Nicolae Bălcescu High School (now known as Alexandru Lahovari National College) in Râmnicu Vâlcea, he had to make a choice between a career as a professional sportsman (boxing) and acting. He was even awarded a golden star at an amateur boxing championship. In 1956, he won first prize for interpreting "Steaguri pe turnuri" (he played the bandit Rijikov) at a contest dedicated to young actors. He was then scouted by Sică Alexandrescu which meant the beginning of Rădulescu's acting career. Rădulescu befriended Ion Cojar and Liviu Ciulei; with the later he collaborated for the role of Farfuridi in O scrisoare pierdută, where he had exceptional actors as colleagues: Rodica Tapalagă, Petre Gheorghiu, Ștefan Bănică, Mircea Diaconu, Octavian Cotescu, Aurel Cioranu, and Ciulei himself. Liviu Ciulei called Dem Rădulescu "a genius of acting". In 1967, Rădulescu was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Romania), fourth class. He died of a heart attack on 17 September 2000 in București, after previously having suffered a stroke.

Selected filmography