b. Jan. 12, 1878, d. Apr. 2, 1952, is perhaps the best-known Hungarian author outside of that country. His plays have been translated into more than 25 languages, and several have been adapted for the screen. Liliom (1909; Eng. trans., 1921) and The Swan (1920; Eng. trans., 1922) are frequently staged in the West.

A keen observer of urban life, Molnar was especially adept at depicting middle- and upper-class urban life. His plays display a mastery of stagecraft, witty dialogue, and a polished style. Some of his best short stories are collected in Muzsika (Music, 1908). Molnar was also the author of several novels, the most successful being The Paul Street Boys (1907; Eng. trans., 1927), written for young people. He left Hungary in the 1930s to settle in New York.