J. Bernlef was born on January 14, 1937 in Sint-Pancras, Noord-Holland, Netherlands as Hendrik Jan Marsman. He was a writer and producer, known for Hersenschimmen (1988), Oog in oog (1991) and Onder de bomen (1966). He was married to Eva Hoornik. He died on October 29, 2012 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland.