Can You Tell Me About Tom Stoppard?

Playwright Tom Stoppard was born Tomáš Straussler in Czechoslovakia on July 3rd 1937.

His family had to flee to Singapore to avoid persecution on the day the Nazis invaded.  They were later forced to evacuate to India due to the Japanese invasion of Singapore.  His father remained in Singapore and was killed.

In India he received an English education and his mother married Kenneth Stoppard.  The family moved to England in 1945.  

After he left school, he became a journalist working first of all for the Western Daily Press.

In 1962, he started work in London as a drama critic for Scene.  He wrote reviews using both his real name and the name "William Boot".

His plays deal combine philosophical issues with wit and visual humour.  

He has written both radio and TV plays and adapted many of his plays for film and TV.  

He has also written one novel – called Lord Malquist and Mr Moon and set in contemporary London

There was a rumour that he helped George Lucas with some of the dialogue for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Star Wars Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith, although no credit for these were given.  

He received a CBE in 1978 and was knighted in 1997.