Egon Friedell (born Egon Friedmann; 21 January 1878, in Vienna – 16 March 1938, in Vienna) was a prominent Austrian cultural historian, playwright, actor and Kabarett performer, journalist and theatre critic. Friedell has been described as a polymath. Before 1916, he was also known by his pen name Egon Friedländer. Early life Friedell's parents had immigrated to Vienna from the eastern parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Friedell was the second child of Jewish parents, Moriz Friedmann and Karoline (née Eisenberger), who were running a silk manufactory in Mariahilf. His older brother, , also later became a writer and journalist. His mother left the family for another man when he was one year old, from then on he lived with his father. The divorce was made in 1887. After his father's death in 1889, Friedell lived with his aunt in Frankfurt am Main, where he would attend school, until he was expelled for unruly behaviour three years later. Even at this young age, Friedell was considered a trouble maker and free thinker. In 1897, he renounced Judaism and converted to the Lutheran faith. He attended several schools in Austria and Germany. Whilst attending school in Heidelberg in 1897, he already attended lectures on history of philosophy by Kuno Fischer. In 1899, he finally passed his Abitur (exit examination) after four attempts, in Bad Hersfeld. After graduation, he enrolled in Heidelberg University to study under the historian of philosophy and follower of Hegel, Kuno Fischer. Also in 1899, he had come of age and accepted his part of his father's inheritance. This enabled him to buy a tenement in Vienna at Gentzgasse 7, where he lived from then on. This is also where he tragically died. Neither of the brothers wanted to continue running the father's factory. From 1900 to 1904, Egon Friedell studied philosophy and German literature in Vienna. During that time he meet Peter Altenberg and began writing articles for März and Die Schaubühne. In 1904, he received his PhD for the dissertation on Novalis als Philosoph, which he wrote under the guidance of . His dissertation was published soon after at in Munich. Actor, theatre critic, essayist, translator and biographer In 1905, he started publishing texts in Karl Kraus's journal Die Fackel. The first was Vorurteile (issue no. 190), which included the following statement: "The worst prejudice we acquire during our youth is the idea that life is serious.