Robert Bolt

Robert Bolt was an English playwright and screenwriter. He was born in Cheshire and earned a degree in history from the University of Exeter. In 1958, at the age of 33, he published his first play, The Flowering Cherry. Bolt became interested in the story of Sir Thomas More at an early age and wrote A Man for All Seasons about More’s falling out with King Henry VIII over his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The play became popular and was adapted into a film. In 1971, he wrote Vivat! Vivat Regina!, which was equally acclaimed.

Bolt is most famous for his screenplays. He wrote the hugely successful films Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. His work primarily focuses on historical dramas and is infused with elements of Bertolt Brecht’s theatricality, with one actor playing multiple characters and narrating to the audience. In 1979, Bolt suffered both a stroke and a heart attack. He died in 1995 at age 70.