Robert Bolt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Bolt
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|---|---|
| Born | 15 August 1924 Sale, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 20 February 1995 (aged 70) Petersfield, Hampshire, England |
| Education | Manchester Grammar School; University of Manchester; University of Exeter |
| Notable works |
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| Spouse |
Celia Ann "Jo" Roberts
(m. 1948; div. 1963)Sarah Miles
(m. 1967; div. 1976)
(m. 1988)Ann Queensberry
(m. 1980; div. 1985) |
| Children | 4 |
Robert Oxton Bolt (born August 15, 1924 – died February 20, 1995) was a famous English writer. He wrote plays for the stage and screenplays for movies. He won two Oscars for his movie scripts. Some of his most famous movies are Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A Man for All Seasons.
Contents
Robert Bolt's Career
Robert Bolt was born in Sale, England. His parents were Methodists, and his father owned a small furniture shop. He went to Manchester Grammar School. After school, he worked in an insurance office, which he did not like.
He studied hard in the evenings and got into the University of Manchester. During World War II, he served in the RAF and later as an Army officer in West Africa. After the war, he finished his history degree. He also earned a teaching degree from the University of Exeter.
For many years, Robert Bolt taught English and history at Millfield School. He became a full-time writer when he was 33 years old. This happened after his play The Flowering Cherry was shown in London in 1958.
Becoming a Famous Writer
Robert Bolt first became well-known for his play A Man for All Seasons. This play tells the story of Sir Thomas More and his disagreements with King Henry VIII. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, but Thomas More did not agree with this. The play won many awards, both on stage and as a movie.
Most of Robert Bolt's later work was writing screenplays for movies and TV shows. He often wrote about characters who faced challenges from society.
Writing for Movies
Robert Bolt wrote the script for Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This movie was about T. E. Lawrence, a British officer who helped Arab people during a war. Bolt made the story about Lawrence's search for his own identity. Lawrence felt like an outsider in both English and Arab society.
Later, Bolt wrote the screenplay for Doctor Zhivago. He added his own style of storytelling and dialogue to Boris Pasternak's novel. His dialogue was often short and meaningful.
After he had a stroke, Bolt worked on the movie The Bounty. In this film, the character Fletcher Christian is also a person who struggles against society and loses his sense of self.
His last major movie project was The Mission. This movie was about Jesuits (a group of Catholic priests) in South America in the 1700s. It also showed his common themes of people facing big challenges.
Robert Bolt's final script was for a TV movie called Without Warning: The James Brady Story (1991). This film was about the attempted attack on Ronald Reagan and how his press secretary, James Brady, recovered from a serious injury. Bolt used his own experiences of recovering from a stroke to help write this story.
Robert Bolt's Life
Robert Bolt was married four times. Twice, he married the British actress Sarah Miles. He had three children with his first wife, Celia Ann "Jo" Roberts: Sally, Ben, and Joanna. He had a fourth child, Thomas, with Sarah Miles.
Later Life and Death
In 1979, Robert Bolt had a heart attack and a stroke. The stroke left him unable to move some parts of his body. He died in 1995 at the age of 70 in Petersfield, England, after a long illness.
Awards and Honours
Robert Bolt received an honour called Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1972. This is a special award given by the British government.
Tony Awards
Robert Bolt was recognized for his plays on stage.
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | A Man for All Seasons | Best Play | Won |
| 1972 | Vivat! Vivat Regina! | Nominated |
Movie Screenplay Awards
Robert Bolt won many awards for his movie scripts.
| Year | Nominated work | Academy Awards Best Adapted Screenplay |
BAFTA Awards Best British Screenplay (A) Best Original Screenplay (B) |
Golden Globe Awards Best Screenplay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Lawrence of Arabia | Nominated | Won A (1963) | N/A |
| 1965 | Doctor Zhivago | Won | N/A | Won |
| 1966 | A Man for All Seasons | Won | Won A (1968) | Won |
| 1986 | The Mission | N/A | Nominated B (1987) | Won |
Works by Robert Bolt
Robert Bolt wrote many plays and screenplays.
Plays
- Flowering Cherry (1958) – This play is about a man who dreams of owning a cherry orchard.
- The Tiger and the Horse (1960) – This play explores ideas about individuals, society, and power.
- A Man for All Seasons (1960) – This is one of Bolt's most famous plays. It's about Sir Thomas More's conflict with King Henry VIII.
- Vivat! Vivat Regina! (1971) – This play tells the story of two queens, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I of England.
- State of Revolution (1977) – This play is about the Russian Revolution of 1917 and focuses on leaders like Vladimir Lenin.
Screenplays
Robert Bolt is very well known for his movie scripts. He even tried directing a movie once, Lady Caroline Lamb (1972).
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- A Man for All Seasons (1966)
- Ryan's Daughter (1970)
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) (He also directed this movie)
- The Bounty (1984)
- The Mission (1986)
- Without Warning: The James Brady Story (1991) (TV movie)
For a time, Robert Bolt was one of the highest-paid screenwriters in Hollywood.
Filmography
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - He had a small, uncredited role as an "Officer with Pipe Gazing at Lawrence."
See also
In Spanish: Robert Bolt para niños
