Friedrich Dürrenmatt was a Swiss author and dramatist, born on 5 January 1921 in the Emmental, canton of Bern. He was the son of a Protestant pastor and the grandson of conservative politician Ulrich Dürrenmatt. His family moved to Bern in 1935.

Dürrenmatt began studying philosophy and German language and literature at the University of Zurich in 1941, but soon moved to the University of Bern. In 1943, he decided to pursue a career as an author and dramatist, abandoning his academic pursuits. His first play, "It is written", was penned in 1945-46.

He married actress Lotti Geissler in 1946. Following her death in 1983, Dürrenmatt married another actress, Charlotte Kerr, in the following year. Dürrenmatt was a proponent of epic theatre, with his plays reflecting the recent experiences of World War II. His work encompassed avant-garde dramas, philosophical crime novels, and macabre satire. He was also a member of the Gruppe Olten, a collective of left-wing Swiss writers.