Dumitru R. Rădulescu, known professionally as Dem Rădulescu or Rădulescu-Biban (; 21 September 1931 – 10 September 2000), was a Romanian comedian, actor, director, and professor at the Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC). Though attracted to acting in his late teens, he was initially an athlete, and had a short career in semi-professional boxing. His life, from his debut years to his fifties, was spent under the communist regime, whose values were sometimes present in his roles. At the National Theater Bucharest, young Rădulescu was mainly cast in Soviet plays, including one based on Anton Makarenko's pedagogy, before he found his niche as a performer in comedies by the Romanian classic Ion Luca Caragiale, as directed by Sică Alexandrescu. Increasingly recognized for his contributions in Shakespearean comedy, he was also a favorite of the author Aurel Baranga, who used him in satires targeting social parasitism.
Rădulescu's first cinematic roles, taken up in the early 1960s, included light comedies based on Caragiale and other local writers, as well as international projects by the likes of René Clair. He became a national celebrity during the 1970s, with a recurring buffoonish role in Brigada Diverse series, as well as with a supporting role in a children's musical, Veronica; he was widely acclaimed for his comedic roles on both the state television network and Radio Bucharest, though his reputation in such media was harmed by the steady decline of production values. The crowning of his Caragialesque roles was with Liviu Ciulei's production of O scrisoare pierdută (1972), and he continued to act in the related corpus of plays and adapted sketch stories, into the 1990s. His career suffered several setbacks during that interval, in particular due to Rădulescu's acceptance of roles in poor-quality projects. Despite his classical training, he was always willing to work in revues, variety shows and stand-up routines, resulting in his being shunned by more aesthetically minded critics. He is credited with having helped to create a touring variety-show formula which always had mass appeal.
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 occurred just as Rădulescu was finding renewed respect as an actor, director, and academic; graduates of his classes include figures such as Maia Morgenstern and Dan Puric. The post-revolutionary period saw him accepting roles in sex comedies and adopting ribaldry in his stand-up acts. He continued to impress his peers with his occasional repertory roles, including as Spirache for a televised version of Tudor Mușatescu's Titanic Waltz (1992). For a while, he was interested in politics and had an unsuccessful run in the legislative election of May 1990. By 1996, Rădulescu's career in cinema had effectively ended, but he continued to enjoy success as a television comedian, creating shows on Tele7ABC and Pro TV. Beset by hypertension, he ultimately died of a heart attack just short of his 69th birthday. His young daughter Irina Rădulescu achieved recognition as an actress, upon reaching adulthood.
Biography Early life The actor was born "Dumitru R. Rădulescu" in Râmnicu Vâlcea town."17 septembrie... în istorie", in Informația Zilei, 16 September 2023, p. 10 Some confusion exists as to the day, which some sources indicate as 17 September 1931. Dem allowed it to be mentioned as 31 September, a nonexistent day, before clarifying that this was a misprint for the 21st."Minuni în 'Cine-astrologie'", in Libertatea, 9 February 1991, p. 2 His parents were ethnic Romanians from two different parts of the Romanian Kingdom: his mother was a homemaker from Transylvania, while his father, a local Oltenian, ran a clothes shop, and was known locally for supporting the right-leaning National Liberals.Vodă & Rădulescu, 21.2 minutes in, 25 minutes in The couple had in total three boys, of whom Dem was the youngest.Vodă & Rădulescu, 25 minutes in He once indicated his father as the earliest source for his distinct brand of humor,S. R., "Dem Rădulescu: 'Acum se cîntă un imn al mitocăniei'", in Jurnalul de Reșița, Issue 22/1993, p. 3 though he did not yet consider going into acting. As he remembered in a 1980s interview, as a child he was only vaguely familiar with the craft: he watched, and greatly enjoyed, films starring Jean Gabin (whom he regarded as an amateur of genius), but never attended a theatrical production until World War II, in 1943. The event involved a Bucharest troupe led by Constantin Tănase, with Maria Tănase as a musical act. The boy was charmed by the "miracle" of stagecraft, and would hang around for hours on end next to the actors' railroad car, which was stationed in close proximity to his childhood home.Sîrbu & Rădulescu, p. 104. See also Vodă & Rădulescu, 32.5 minutes in
Rădulescu's other experiences of life at the station included begging from Wehrmacht soldiers heading toward the Eastern Front, and rushing in to gawk at other transients, from a Red Army captive to scores of Polish refugees and Jewish deportees.Vodă & Rădulescu, 21.3 minutes in Upon the end of the war, Romania was occupied by the Soviets, with the local Communist Party emerging as a powerful player. As a former officer in the Royal Romanian Air Force, Dem's oldest brother campaigned for the opposition National Peasants' Party, then tried to flee the country. He was captured and then imprisoned, dying shortly after as an unrepenting anti-communist; for part of his own life, Dem protected his own career under the Romanian communist regime by omitting to mention his brother's political profile.Vodă & Rădulescu, 27 minutes in Rădulescu's father had meanwhile lost his shop, becoming instead manager of a fishmongers' co-operative—his new profession upgraded his political profile, allowing him to be considered frequentable by the new leftist governments.Vodă & Rădulescu, 26 minutes in This change of careers also accounts for his son's nickname, Bibanu ("Perch"), which was used throughout his lifetime."Dem Rădulescu a încetat din viață. Cauza decesului: stop cardiac", in Monitorul, 11 September 2000, p. 1 For a while in the 1960s, he was credited as "Rădulescu-Biban",Mihai Dimiu, "Spectacole—arte. Promovarea tînărului actor", in Luceafărul, Vol. VI, Issue 7, March 1963, p. 10 but later came to object when people other than his family, friends or students referred to him as such.Dana Andronie, "Ediție de colecție. Geniul comediei. Dem Rădulescu era râsu'-plânsu' perfect", in Jurnalul Național, 15 May 2009, p. 19
Dem attended the high school now known as Alexandru Lahovari National College, located in his native city.Vodă & Rădulescu, 31.2 minutes inIoana Stoica, "Dem a fost ieri ultima oară la Național", in Cronica Română, 13 September 2000, p. 9 He was a mediocre student, who once took remedial maths; though he read up on theatrical arts at the school library, approaching them with reverence, he confessed that he understood "next to nothing" from these.Vodă & Rădulescu, 31.3 minutes in Joining an amateur troupe, he recited his first poem when he was sixteen or older.Sîrbu & Rădulescu, p. 104. See also Vodă & Rădulescu, 32.2 minutes in He then hesitated between acting, which his schoolmates had described as his natural inclination, and professional sports. While always attracted by boxing, he appeared in association football and volleyball competitions.Sîrbu & Rădulescu, p. 104 He eventually qualified as a welterweight boxer.Vodă & Rădulescu, 5 minutes in By his own account, he was accepted as a trainee by the heavyweight champion Gheorghe Lungu, but "got cold feet" after being pummeled by a lower-rated fighter "in the second round" of an unspecified event.George Mihalache, "Cu actorul Dem. Rădulescu despre a doua sa pasiune: sportul", in Sportul, 8 April 1973, p. 2 From this episodic career, Rădulescu preserved several medals; he remained active as an amateur footballer into his forties, training with FC Progresul and Dinamo as a regular member of the Romanian actors' exhibition team. He was also close friends with footballers Ion Nunweiller of Dinamo and Dumitru Macri of Rapid, though he mainly supported his local team, Chimia.Aurel Codreanu, "Un surîs în plină iarnă. Dem Rădulescu: De ce farfurie zburătoare?...", in Munca, 27 December 1974, p. 10
Young Rădulescu moved to Bucharest, intending to be admitted into the Caragiale Institute (IATC, the future UNATC). He passed his examination with Gheorghe Storin, the 33rd out of ninety candidates, and then qualified for a national scholarship. His head teacher was tragedian Beate Fredanov,Vodă & Rădulescu, 18 minutes in but he secretly considered going into comedy, and was hurt when once told that he lacked the chops for humorous projects.Sîrbu & Rădulescu, p. 105 During his studies, he happened to run into a film crew, and debuted as an extra in a historical film, whose title he could not remember.Lazăr, pp. 127–128 He graduated in 1954, when he also made his debut at the National Theater Bucharest (TNB)—with a classical role in Anton Chekhov's Bear.
Alexandrescu's pupil Though graduating with honors, Rădulescu, like others under that period in communism, was having difficulties feeding himself; as he recalled, a payment supplement allowed him to consume half a loaf of white bread and a jar of stuffed eggplants, daily.Vodă & Rădulescu, 21 minutes in In 1956, he joined the permanent teaching staff at his alma mater.Sorin Ghilea, "Mic dejun actoricesc la Maier Reisen Fântânele. Cu Dem Rădulescu: 'Să mori de Dem Rădulescu...'", in Alfa Magazin, Vol. VI, Issue 296, November 1996, p. 8 He also appeared as the antagonist, Gryshka Ryzhykov, in a stage adaption of Anton Makarenko's Flags on the Battlements, directed by Ion Cojar at the TNB (and subsequently showcased at the Young Actors' Competition). Critics were divided: Manase Radnev enjoyed his "authenticity and naturalness",Manase Radnev, "Teatru. Concursul tinerilor actori. Steaguri pe turnuri", in Contemporanul, Issue 21/1957, p. 4 whereas Mira Iosif was not impressed by his "supposedly expressive grimaces" (though she noted his "great potential for comedy").Mira Iosif, "Concursul tinerilor actori. Spiritul colectiv în spectacol", in Teatrul, Vol. II, Issue 7, July 1957, p. 13 He was one of seven recipients of the national young actors' prize in June 1957."Au fost acordate premiile la cel de-al II-lea Concurs republican al tinerilor actori", in Apărarea Patriei, 2 June 1957, p. 3 By May 1958, he was an understudy in Alexandru Adamescu's Judecata focului."Interpreți noi", in Contemporanul, Issue 18/1958, p. 4 During 1959, he supported the main cast of An Optimistic Tragedy at the TNB, playing The Odessan, and receiving praise for his "expressivity".Florian Potra, "Cronica. Reîntîlnire cu poezia revoluției", in Teatrul, Vol. IV, Issue 7, July 1959, p. 74 He returned in competition for the youth prize as Ivan in The Last Ones, by Maxim Gorky. Emil Riman of Teatrul magazine deemed his study of the character as largely correct, though insufficient.Emil Riman, "Al III-lea Concurs republican al tinerilor artiști din teatrele dramatice. Un spectacol de compoziții", in Teatrul, Vol. V, Issue 1, January 1960, p. 57