Playwright, Author, Screenwriter. Several of his works were made into motion picture adaptations including "Equus" (1977), which earned him an Oscar nomination) and "Amadeus" (1985, for which he received an Academy Award). Born Peter Levin Shaffer, into an Orthodox-Jewish family, he worked as a "bevin boy" in a coal mine during World War II. He attained a degree in History from Trinity College of Cambridge University in 1950 and with his twin brother Anthony (Anthony Shaffer who is best remembered for penning "Sleuth" (1970), they penned the novel "Woman in the Wardrobe" (1951), under the author name Peter Anthony. This was followed with "How Doth the Crocodile" (1952) and the "Withered Murder" (1956). Both collaborations with his brother. By the end of the 1950s, Peter was penning plays beginning with "The Five Finger Exercise" (1959). The play was a success on both London's West End and Broadway. This was followed with "The Private Ear and the Public Eye" (1963 to 1964) and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" (1965 to 1966). He earned a Tony Award nomination for "Black Comedy/White Lies" (1967), "Lettice and Lovage" (1990) and received Tony Awards for "Equus" (1975) and "Amadeus" (1981).
Playwright, Author, Screenwriter. Several of his works were made into motion picture adaptations including "Equus" (1977), which earned him an Oscar nomination) and "Amadeus" (1985, for which he received an Academy Award). Born Peter Levin Shaffer, into an Orthodox-Jewish family, he worked as a "bevin boy" in a coal mine during World War II. He attained a degree in History from Trinity College of Cambridge University in 1950 and with his twin brother Anthony (Anthony Shaffer who is best remembered for penning "Sleuth" (1970), they penned the novel "Woman in the Wardrobe" (1951), under the author name Peter Anthony. This was followed with "How Doth the Crocodile" (1952) and the "Withered Murder" (1956). Both collaborations with his brother. By the end of the 1950s, Peter was penning plays beginning with "The Five Finger Exercise" (1959). The play was a success on both London's West End and Broadway. This was followed with "The Private Ear and the Public Eye" (1963 to 1964) and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" (1965 to 1966). He earned a Tony Award nomination for "Black Comedy/White Lies" (1967), "Lettice and Lovage" (1990) and received Tony Awards for "Equus" (1975) and "Amadeus" (1981).
Bio by: C.S.
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