London: British playwright Tom Stoppard, best known for his Oscar-winning screenplay for the 1998 film ‘Shakespeare in Love’, has passed away at the age of 88, United Agents confirmed on Saturday.

A statement from Stoppard’s talent agency read, “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved client and friend, Tom Stoppard, has died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language. It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him.”

How did he impact cinema?

To audiences less familiar with theatre, Stoppard was best remembered for his work in cinema, which included contributions to the ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Star Wars’ franchises. He won an Academy Award in 1999 for the screenplay of ‘Shakespeare in Love’, which went on to claim seven Oscars that year.

Early life and career

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1937, Stoppard fled the country during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain. After finishing school, he initially worked as a journalist before becoming a playwright.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Stoppard wrote for theatre, television, radio, and film, earning multiple awards along the way.

In 1997, Stoppard was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to literature.

Stoppard was married three times and had four sons. One of his sons, Ed Stoppard, followed in his father’s footsteps and became an actor.

AFP inputs