Early Life and Birth Date
Yul Brynner was born on July 11, 1920, in Vladivostok, Russia, which means he was 84 years old at the time of his death. His birth year is consistently documented in authoritative biographies and public records, making his age at any given point straightforward to calculate. The actor later became widely known for his roles on stage and screen, but his early years in the Russian Far East shaped his path toward performance and travel. Learn more about his early background through biographical sources like Britannica.
Because Brynner often gave varying accounts of his birthplace and family history, his exact age has sometimes been surrounded by public curiosity. Official documents, including immigration records and studio contracts, confirm the 1920 birth year. This makes it easy to state that he was born in 1920 and lived until 1985, dying at the age of 84 from lung cancer. The consistency of these records helps avoid confusion when searching for how old he was during different phases of his career.
Age During Major Career Milestones
Yul Brynner was 41 years old when he starred in the 1956 film The King and I, a role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He had already spent years performing on Broadway, where he first played the King of Siam in 1951 at age 31. His age during these milestones is often cited in film history references and studio press materials, showing a clear timeline from stage to screen. For more on his career timeline, see IMDb Bio.
By the time he appeared in The Magnificent Seven in 1960, Brynner was 40 years old, cementing his status as a leading man in Western and action films. He continued to work steadily through the 1960s and 1970s, taking on roles that leveraged his distinctive presence and voice. His age during these decades placed him among the veteran actors who defined mid-century Hollywood, and his filmography remains a key reference for fans and historians. Detailed filmography data is available on TCM.
Final Years and Age at Death
Yul Brynner died on October 10, 1985, at the age of 84, in New York City. His death was attributed to lung cancer, a condition linked to his long-term smoking habit, which he publicly discussed in anti-smoking campaigns. The final phase of his life included continued acting work and advocacy, with his age and health becoming part of the public record through obituaries and medical disclosures. The New York Times obituary provides a contemporaneous account of his passing.
Today, his age at death and his birth year are fixed data points used in biographical databases, film archives, and educational materials. Researchers and fans frequently reference his 1920 birth year and 1985 death to calculate his age during specific performances and film releases. This factual consistency ensures that questions about how old he was at any point in his career can be answered with precision. The Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery also holds