Sylvia Plath · Barack Obama Were Sylvia Plath and Barack Obama alive at the same time? Yes. Sylvia Plath and Barack Obama were alive at the same time for 1 years, from 1961 to 1963. Sylvia Plath was 28 when Barack Obama was born.Barack Obama was 1 when Sylvia Plath died, aged 30. Sylvia PlathAmerican poet and writerBorn 27 October 1932 · died 11 February 1963, aged 30Barack Obama44th President of the United StatesBorn 4 August 1961 · living, 65 as of September 2026 Albert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald ReaganNelson MandelaSylvia PlathDonald TrumpVladimir PutinMichael JacksonBarack Obama Sylvia Plath 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.