Award-winning playwright Sir Tom Stoppard has died at the age of 88. The celebrated writer passed away peacefully at his home in Dorset, surrounded by his family, his representatives United Agents announced.
Stoppard leaves behind a six-decade career that redefined modern theatre. He won an Academy Award in 1998 for his screenplay "Shakespeare In Love", starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Dame Judi Dench. His stage work earned him four Tony Awards, including best play for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" in 1968.
The playwright built his reputation on works that explored complex philosophical and political themes. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" reimagined two minor characters from Hamlet and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before transferring to the National Theatre and Broadway. His other celebrated plays include "Arcadia" and numerous works for TV, radio and film.
Legacy and tributes
United Agents paid tribute to Stoppard's lasting impact on literature and theatre. «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», the statement said.
From refugee to knight
Born in Czechoslovakia, Stoppard fled his homeland during the Nazi occupation and found asylum in Britain. His career gained momentum in the 1960s with "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead". The late Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1997 for his services to literature.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
