born 1583, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, Eng.
died March 1639/40, London
English playwright.
After a period during which he collaborated with playwrights such as John Fletcher, Massinger began с 1620 to write independently. From 1625 he was associated with the theatrical company The King's Men. His 15 surviving solo works are noted for their social realism and satirical power. They include the comedies A New Way to Pay Old Debts (с 1624), his most popular and influential play, and The City Madam (с 1632), both of which probed economic and social issues, and the historical tragedy The Roman Actor (с 1626).