Amadeus and Equus Playwright Peter Shaffer Is Dead at 90
British author Peter Shaffer, who won Tony Awards for Best Play for Equus (1974) and Amadeus (1980) has died, according to his publicist.
The author of the Tony-nominated plays Lettice and Lovage (1990) and Black Comedy/White Lies (1967) was 90. He made his Broadway debut in 1959 withFive Finger Exercise. His other Broadway productions include The Private Ear and The Public Eye (1963) and The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1965). Most of his plays premiered in the U.K. before Broadway, and he was closely associated with the Royal National Theatre in London.
He won an Oscar in 1985 for his screenplay to Amadeus, which was named Best Picture that year.
Angela Lansbury and Dana Ivey are scheduled to do a one-night-only reading of Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage June 13 as a benefit for The Acting Company. A company spokesperson said the reading will go on as scheduled, and will be dedicated to Shaffer's memory.
His twin brother, Broadway playwright Anthony Shaffer ( Sleuth), died in 2001.
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