William Goldman, the Oscar-winning screen writer of The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men, has died in New York at the age of 87.
He began his career as a novelist in 1957 and nine years later began writing screen plays. His first success came with crime drama Harper, which was directed by Jack Smight and starred Paul Newman. It was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award in 1967.
His film script for Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, for which he achieved four Oscars as well as nine Baftas, which made Goldman a the leading figure among screenwriters. He won another Oscar for All the President's Men.
He wrote the bible for aspiring screenwriters Adventures in the Screen Trade
Despite not winning awards for The Princess Bride, the film has a cult following and had a recent 30th anniversary re-release.
Tributes have been paid on social media to the talented screen writer.
GOP Senator Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.,: It’s a 'great idea' to make it harder for 'liberal folks' to vote - https://t.co/HbqxS3rs5H
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) November 16, 2018
So many, seeking his counsel -- and through it all, he was listed in the Manhattan White pages. He answered his own phone. I sat on a dock at sunrise reading CONTROL, the last line of which, I believe, is: "Sadness and friends... what else is there?" What, indeed. RIP, Bill. pic.twitter.com/frHPVlq6xv
— Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) November 16, 2018
RIP #WilliamGoldman. One of the greatest most successful screenwriters ever. I was lucky as hell to count Bill as a mentor and a friend. Check his credits & see a William Goldman movie or read a Goldman book over the holiday & give thanks that we had his voice in our world. https://t.co/RWRdCoO1Cm
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) November 16, 2018
William Goldman was huge part Of creating some of the seminal movies of the 70’s and beyond. His book on screenwriting was a touchstone for me and I always felt star struck and intimidated seeing him at Knicks games. #RESPECT https://t.co/ED9HUJc50R
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) November 16, 2018
