born May 9, 1934, Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng.
British dramatist, screenwriter, and actor.
He first gained success with the brilliant satirical revue Beyond the Fringe (1960), which he cowrote and performed with Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, and Jonathan Miller . His first stage play, Forty Years On (1968), was followed by plays such as Getting On (1971) and Enjoy (1980). He later wrote works for television, including An Englishman Abroad (1982) and Talking Heads (1988), which were marked by his characteristic mixture of wry comedy and sadness. His screenplays include Prick Up Your Ears (1987). His successful play The Madness of King George (1991) was made into an acclaimed film in 1994.