Adolf Hitler · J. R. R. Tolkien Were Adolf Hitler and J. R. R. Tolkien alive at the same time? Yes. Adolf Hitler and J. R. R. Tolkien were alive at the same time for 53 years, from 1892 to 1945. Adolf Hitler was 2 when J. R. R. Tolkien was born.J. R. R. Tolkien was 53 when Adolf Hitler died, aged 56. Adolf HitlerDictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945Born 20 April 1889 · died 30 April 1945, aged 56J. R. R. TolkienEnglish writer and philologistBorn 3 January 1892 · died 2 September 1973, aged 81 Mahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerJ. R. R. TolkienRonald ReaganNelson MandelaDonald TrumpMichael JacksonBarack Obama Adolf Hitler and J. R. R. Tolkien 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.