Tree species Sir Tom Stoppard was hailed this week by King Charles as ‘one of our greatest writers’ in a touching tribute following his death aged 88.
Few British playwrights were as revered or decorated as Sir Tom, whose talents saw him win an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay Shakespeare In Love.
His semi-autobiographical Leopoldstadt – set in the Jewish quarter of early 20th-century Vienna – won him an Olivier award for best new play and also won four Tony awards.
The legendary writer’s other stage work included The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead.
But it was his uncredited writing on blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Empire of the Sun that made movies sparkle on the silver screen.
The famed director would often turn to Sir Tom, with his anonymous script-doctoring helping on the 1991 Peter Pan tale Hook, and Schindler’s List in 1993.
Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker got the Stoppard treatment in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, with himself declaring: ‘If you’re going to be rewritten by anybody, Stoppard’s the one.’
Sir Tom also contributed to a pivotal scene in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith where Anakin Skywalker meets with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.
Sir Tom Stoppard after winning ‘Best Play’ for The Coast of Utopia at the 61st Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2007 in New York City
It was his uncredited writing on blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg ‘s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (pictured) and Empire of the Sun that made movies sparkle
Sir Tom also contributed to the above pivotal scene in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith where Anakin Skywalker meets with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Sir Tom told The Guardian in 2010 he would do uncredited work about once a year.
‘The second reason for doing it is that you get to work with people you admire. The first reason, of course, is that it’s overpaid,’ he said.
He recounted being dragged out of the shower and naked as he took a call from Spielberg as he was on the set of Schindler’s List asking for help during one scene of Steven Zaillian’s script.
‘I actually got quite angry with Spielberg, who was and is a good friend, and told him just to film Zaillian’s script. But Steven, like a lot of other people in movies, tends to think one more opinion can’t hurt,’ he said.
Announcing his death on Saturday evening, United Agents said: ‘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.’
He died peacefully at his home in Dorset surrounded by his family
Tributes poured in for Sir Tom, including from King Charles, who said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace that he was ‘a dear friend who wore his genius lightly’ and that he and the Queen were ‘deeply saddened’ by the writer’s death.
Lead singer and founding member of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, said: ‘Tom was a giant of the English theatre, both highly intellectual and very funny in all his plays and scripts.
The legendary writer’s other stage work included The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead
Sir Tom shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 before being presenting with the insignia of a Member of the Order of Merit at Buckingham Palace
Sir Tom recounted being dragged out of the shower and naked as he took a call from Spielberg as he was on the set of Schindler’s List asking for help
‘He had a dazzling wit and loved classical and popular music alike which often featured in his huge body of work.
‘He was amusing and quietly sardonic. A friend and companion and I will always miss him.’
American writer and producer Robert King said: ‘Tom Stoppard just died. What an amazing playwright.
‘He saw no contradiction between smart writing and fun writing. Amazing how he wrote about pretentious topics without being pretentious.’
Although primarily entertaining, Sir Tom’s work explored philosophical and political themes, challenging societal norms to remind audiences of the power of thought.
Award-winning plays such as Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, The Real Thing and Travesties highlighted the enduring impact of art tackling complex ideas, sharp dialogue and unrivalled wit.
He also wrote prolifically for TV, radio and film, including adapting Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina for the 2012 film starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law, and TV series Parade’s End with Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall – adapted from novels by Ford Madox Ford.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia, he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain where he learned a new language and his remarkable career took off.
He became a journalist in Bristol in 1954 before becoming a theatre critic and writing plays for radio and TV, including The Stand-Ins, later revised as The Real Inspector Hound, and Albert’s Bridge first broadcast by BBC Radio.
King Charles (right) shaking hands with Sir Thomas Stoppard (left) in 2009 before a lunch for members of the Order of Merit at Buckingham Palace in London
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, inspired by Sir Tom’s friendship with Viktor Fainberg who had been imprisoned in Czechoslovakia by the Soviets, was first performed in 1977, before the playwright began advocating on behalf of dissidents.
Meanwhile his trilogy of plays set in 19th century Russia, The Coast Of Utopia was first staged at the National Theatre in 2002.
His most recent plays include Heroes, Rock ‘n’ Roll and The Hard Problem.
During the course of his career, he received countless accolades and honours, including being knighted by the late Queen for his services to literature in 1997.
He followed in the footsteps of laureates Harold Pinter, Hilary Mantel and Seamus Heaney winning the David Cohen Prize For Literature in 2017.