Son of a small shopkeeper, he attended Manchester Grammar School. He later said that he made poor uses of his opportunities there. He went to work in an insurance office, but later entered Manchester University, taking a degree in History. A post-graduate year at Exeter University led to a schoolmaster's position, first at a village school in ...
Bolt won an Oscar for A Man for All Seasons, which was an adaptation of his own play. He had previously won an Oscar for his adaptation of Dr. Zhivago.
2
Bolt suffered a severe stroke in 1979, which resulted in some loss of speech and partial paralysis. Forced to quit his 80 cigarette-a-day smoking habit, he became sufficiently rehabilitated to resume his writing career in the early 1980's.
3
Served in the RAF during World War II.
4
Was head of the English Department at Millfield School.
5
During the filming of Ryan's Daughter he was asked to rehearse a class of 25 children in their multiplication tables.
Two of his characters contemplate on fishing upon the completion of a conflict. General Allenby from "Lawrence of Arabia" tries out a fishing rod near the ending, saying that he might take up this activity after the war. In "A Man for All Seasons" Thomas More recently resigned from his post as Chancellor of England, telling his wife, Alice, that he might try to fish, among other activities, now that he's out of politics.
8
In an interview with Melvyn Bragg, Bolt said that he had had a very strict Methodist upbringing which involved attending church three times on Sundays. When he turned 16, his father said that Robert could now choose for himself: his choice was that he never went back to church again. His father agreed with this and said that he himself would never go back again.
9
Won two Tony Awards in 1962, as Best Author (Dramatic) and as author of Best Play winner "A Man for All Seasons." He was also nominated in 1972 as author of Best Play nominee "Vivat! Vivat Regina!"
10
Was a close friend of "spaghetti western" icon Franco Nero.
11
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.
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