Tom Stoppard has died

Summary

Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88Seher AsafandPatrick JacksonMatt HumphreySir Tom Stoppard, one of the UK’s best-known playwrights, has died aged 88, his agents have announced.Sir Tom, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, "died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family".King Charles III and Queen Camilla said they were "deeply saddened" by the death of "one of our greatest writers". "A dear friend who wore his genius lightly, he could, and did, turn his pen to any subject, challenging, moving and inspiring his audiences, borne from his own personal history," they said in a statement. "We send our most heartfelt sympathy to his beloved family. Let us all take comfort in his immortal line: 'Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else'."The line is from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, one of his most notable stage works which also include The Real Thing. In a statement announcing his death, United Agents said: "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 playwright captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades with work that explored philosophical and political themes. Paying tribute to his "favourite playwright", Sir Mick Jagger posted on social media: "He leaves us with a majestic body of intellectual and amusing work. I will always miss him."Publishing company Faber Books said Sir Tom was "one of the most brilliant and feted playwrights of the last sixty years and one of the great intellects of our time". "Tom has been at the heart of Faber Drama since his first play, the dazzling Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He will be missed beyond measure," it added. He also wrote for film, TV and radio. He adapted Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina for the 2012 f...