Tom Stoppard, Oscar-Winning Playwright, Dies at 88
Why in the news
British playwright and screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard has died at 88. He was among the most widely performed dramatists of his generation, with a career of about six decades across theatre, film, radio and television.
Key facts
- Born Tomas Straussler on 3 July 1937 in Zlin, Czechoslovakia.
- Died at home in Dorset, England; one source dates his death to 29 November 2025, another report to 30 November.
- Knighted in 1997 for services to literature.
- Won an Academy Award for the screenplay of Shakespeare in Love, a film that won seven Oscars.
| Tony Award for Best Play | Year |
|---|---|
| Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | 1968 |
| Travesties | 1976 |
| The Real Thing | 1984 |
| The Coast of Utopia | 2006 |
| Leopoldstadt | 2023 |
Other works
His best-known plays include Jumpers, Arcadia and The Invention of Love. He also wrote screenplays for Brazil, Empire of the Sun and Anna Karenina, and directed the 1990 film of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Exam angle
- Awards-and-persons questions often ask for the person’s best-known work and honour.
- Remember: Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, five Tonys for Best Play.