History Creator / RobertBolt

Bolt was an active socialist who campaigned for nuclear disarmament, among other causes; he was arrested for taking part in the Committee of 100's Trafalgar Square demonstration in September 1961, and headed the ACTT union for several years. He was partially paralyzed by a stroke in 1979. Bolt was also married three times, most famously to actress Sarah Miles. His son Ben Bolt became a film and television director.

Born in Sale, Cheshire, Bolt served in the RAF during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and spent his early years teaching English and history in Manchester. He spent the '50s writing radio plays for the BBC, before moving to the stage. His early works, ''The Last of the Wine'' and ''The Critic and the Heart'', received modest acclaim, but his breakthrough came with 1958's ''Flowering Cherry'', which ran on London's West End starring Creator/RalphRichardson and Celia Johnson.

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the anti-nuclear drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and her father, Creator/MichaelRedgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/ThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time, due to its stars and [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece topical subject matter]].[[note]]Indeed, ''Tiger'' was successful enough that director Muriel Box optioned it for a film adaptation, planning to use the original cast; the adaptation fell into DevelopmentHell and was never made.[[/note]]''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway the following year.

Bolt followed ''A Man for All Seasons'' with ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre fantasy about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (depicting UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were [[SoOkayItsAverage indifferently received]].

But Bolt became better-known, and arguably more successful as a screenwriter. During the '60s, he collaborated with director Creator/DavidLean on the epics ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' and ''Film/RyansDaughter''. He earned an Oscar nomination for ''Lawrence'', and won for ''Zhivago'' and the 1966 film adaptation of ''A Man for All Seasons''; their success made Bolt Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter for over a decade. He tried directing with 1972's ''Film/LadyCarolineLamb'', which flopped. Later in his career, Bolt wrote the scripts for ''Film/TheBounty'' and ''Film/TheMission'', along with several made-for-TV movies and unrealized projects.

But Bolt became better-known, and arguably more successful as a screenwriter. During the '60s, he collaborated with director Creator/DavidLean on the epics ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' and ''Film/RyansDaughter''. He earned an Oscar nomination for ''Lawrence'', and won for ''Zhivago'' and the 1966 film adaptation of ''A Man for All Seasons''; their success made Bolt Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter for over a decade. He tried directing with 1972's ''Lady Caroline Lamb'', which flopped. Later in his career, Bolt wrote the scripts for ''Film/TheBounty'' and ''Film/TheMission'', along with several made-for-TV movies and unrealized projects.

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'''Stage''':

'''Screenplays''':

* ''Film/TheMission''

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the anti-nuclear drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and her father, Creator/MichaelRedgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/ThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time, due to its stars and [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece topical subject matter]]. ''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway the following year.

Robert Oxton Bolt (15 August 1924 – 21 February 1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter.

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the anti-nuclear drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and her father, Creator/MichaelRedgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/SirThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time, due to its stars and [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece topical subject matter]]. ''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway the following year.

Born in Sale, Cheshire, Bolt served in the RAF during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and spent his early years teaching English and history in Manchester. He spent the '50s writing radio plays for the BBC, before moving to the stage. His early works, ''The Last of the Wine'' and ''The Critic and the Heart'', received modest acclaim, but his breakthrough came with 1958's ''Flowering Cherry'', which ran on London's West End starring Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson.

Robert Oxton Bolt (1924-1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter.

Robert Bolt (1924-1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter.

'''Robert Bolt''' (1924-1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter.

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the topical drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and Michael Redgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/SirThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time, due to its stars and subject matter (concerns over nuclear power). ''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway the following year.

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the topical drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and Michael Redgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/SirThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time; ''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway the following year.

Bolt was an active socialist who campaigned for nuclear disarmament, among other causes; he was arrested for taking part in the Committee of 100's Trafalgar Square demonstration in September 1961. He was partially paralyzed by a stroke in 1979. Bolt was also married three times, most famously to actress Sarah Miles. His son Ben Bolt became a film and television director.

Bolt followed ''A Man for All Seasons'' with ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre fantasy about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (depicting UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were [[SoOkayItsAverage indifferently received]].

But Bolt became better-known, and arguably more successful as a screenwriter. During the '60s, he collaborated with director David Lean on the epics ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' and ''Film/RyansDaughter''. He earned an Oscar nomination for ''Lawrence'', and won for ''Zhivago'' and the 1966 film adaptation of ''A Man for All Seasons''; their success made Bolt Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter for over a decade. He tried directing with 1972's ''Lady Caroline Lamb'', which flopped. Later in his career, Bolt wrote the scripts for ''Film/TheBounty'' and ''Film/TheMission'', along with several made-for-TV movies and unrealized projects.

But Bolt became better-known as a screenwriter. He collaborated with director David Lean on the epics ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' and ''Film/RyansDaughter''. He earned an Oscar nomination for ''Lawrence'', and won for ''Zhivago'' and the 1966 film adaptation of ''A Man for All Seasons''. In 1972 he directed his only film, ''Lady Caroline Lamb'', a major flop. Later in his career, Bolt wrote the scripts for ''Film/TheBounty'' and ''Film/TheMission'', along with several made-for-TV movies and unrealized projects.

Bolt continued writing for the theatre. He followed ''A Man for All Seasons'' with ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre fantasy about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (depicting UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were [[SoOkayItsAverage indifferently received]].

Bolt continued writing for the theatre. His follow-up to ''A Man for All Seasons'' was ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre fantasy about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (depicting UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were [[SoOkayItsAverage indifferently received]].

Bolt continued writing for the theatre. His follow-up to ''A Man for All Seasons'' was ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre parable about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (a depiction of UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were [[SoOkayItsAverage indifferently received]].

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the topical drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and Michael Redgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/SirThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time; ''Man'' only eclipsed it when transported to Broadway.

Bolt continued writing for the theatre. His follow-up to ''A Man for All Seasons'' was ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre parable about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (a depiction of UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were indifferently received.

Bolt was an active socialist who campaigned for nuclear disarmament, among other causes; he was arrested for taking part in the Committee of 100's Trafalgar Square demonstration in September 1960. He was partially paralyzed by a stroke in 1979. Bolt was also married three times, most famously to actress Sarah Miles. His son Ben Bolt became a film and television director.

In 1960, Bolt had the unique honor of two plays running simultaneously on the West End. One was the topical drama ''The Tiger and the Horse'', starring Creator/VanessaRedgrave and Michael Redgrave; the other was ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'', his classic play about UsefulNotes/SirThomasMore featuring Paul Scofield. Ironically, ''Tiger'' (which is barely remembered today) was a much bigger hit at the time; ''Man'' eclipsed it during its Broadway run.

But Bolt became better-known as a screenwriter. He collaborated with director David Lean on the epics ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' and ''Film/RyansDaughter''. He earned an Oscar nomination for ''Lawrence'', and won for ''Zhivago'' and the 1966 film adaptation of ''A Man for All Seasons''. In 1973 he directed his only film, ''Lady Caroline Lamb'', a major flop. Later in his career, Bolt wrote the scripts for ''Film/TheBounty'' and ''Film/TheMission'', along with several made-for-TV movies and unrealized projects.

Bolt continued writing for the theatre, with less success. His follow-up to ''A Man for All Seasons'' was ''Gentle Jack'', a bizarre parable about an office worker who gains supernatural powers from a Pan-like being. The play baffled audiences and infuriated critics; it was never performed after its disastrous 1963 run. Bolt's children's play ''Theatre/TheThwartingOfBaronBolligrew'', in contrast, was a major success, inspiring spin-off novels and a popular puppet show in Germany. His last two stage plays, ''Vivat! Vivat Regina!'' (a depiction of UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland) and ''State of Revolution'' (about the [[RedOctober Russian Revolution]]), were indifferently received.