Arthur Miller (1915– ) was born in New York City. During his youth, his father's business failed as part of the general economic downturn known as the Great Depression. This failure had a permanent impact on Miller, who went on to write great plays on themes related to social and political justice. After graduating from high school, Miller worked and raised money to attend the University of Michigan. There he began writing plays. His most famous work, Death of a Salesman (1949), tells the story of the tragic downfall of its title character, partially as a result of his willingness to do anything for the "almighty dollar." The play is a classic exposé of the consequences of hypocrisy and greed. Miller's other plays include The Crucible (1953) and A View from the Bridge (1955). In addition to his plays for the stage, Miller has written screenplays, including the script for The Misfits, a film that starred his second wife, Marilyn Monroe, and the script for The Crucible, a film that starred Daniel Day Lewis.