Gálvölgyi Judit, renowned Hungarian translator, dies at 81

Gálvölgyi Judit literary translation Tolkien Hungarian literature Gálvölgyi János

Gálvölgyi Judit, a prominent Hungarian literary translator and the wife of actor Gálvölgyi János, died on 31 July 2026 at the age of 81 after a long illness. The family announced her death and said a private funeral would be held. Over a career spanning several decades she translated thousands of pages of English‑language literature into Hungarian, including major works by J.R.R. Tolkien ( A Szilmarilok, A Húrin gyermekeit ), Ransom Riggs, Agatha Christie, Gerald Durrell, Jackie Collins and others. For her contribution to fantasy and science‑fiction literature she received the Trethon Judit‑memorial‑ring in 2019. She began her professional life as a interpreter for the Hungarian Circus and Variety Company and later worked for the English section of Magyar Rádió, also contributing to the magazine Háttér. She was married to Gálvölgyi János for 55 years, with whom she had two daughters and several grandchildren.

Entities

Gálvölgyi Judit · Gálvölgyi János · Hungarian Radio · Hungarian literary translation · J. R. R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien · Magyar Cirkusz és Varieté · Rodolfo (Gács Rezső) · Trethon Judit memorial ring

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] She began her career as interpreter at Magyar Cirkusz és Varieté and later worked for Magyar Rádió’s English section. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] Gálvölgyi Judit died at age 81 on 31 July 2026 after a long illness. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] She translated J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion and The Children of Húrin into Hungarian. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] Her husband, actor Gálvölgyi János, suffered a serious illness in 2023, which she helped him through. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] She was a literary translator and editor. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] She received the Trethon Judit memorial ring in 2019 for promoting fantasy and sci‑fi literature. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] She was the daughter of the famous magician Rodolfo (Gács Rezső). acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu
[● 5 SOURCES] Her funeral was a private ceremony attended only by family members. acnews.hu · parameter.sk · nlc.hu · twice.hu · hvg.hu