J. R. R. Tolkien · Barack Obama Were J. R. R. Tolkien and Barack Obama alive at the same time? Yes. J. R. R. Tolkien and Barack Obama were alive at the same time for 12 years, from 1961 to 1973. J. R. R. Tolkien was 69 when Barack Obama was born.Barack Obama was 12 when J. R. R. Tolkien died, aged 81. J. R. R. TolkienEnglish writer and philologistBorn 3 January 1892 · died 2 September 1973, aged 81Barack Obama44th President of the United StatesBorn 4 August 1961 · living, 65 as of September 2026 Albert EinsteinAdolf HitlerJ. R. R. TolkienRonald ReaganNelson MandelaDonald TrumpVladimir PutinMichael JacksonBarack Obama J. R. R. Tolkien and Barack Obama in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.