David Seidler, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of the 2010 film The King’s Speech, has died at the age of 86. His manager confirmed that Seidler passed away in New Zealand during a fly-fishing trip. He died doing what he loved most, according to his manager, Jeff Aghassi. Seidler won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his work on The King’s Speech, a film about King George VI’s journey to overcoming his stammer. Seidler himself had a stammer as a child, and he was inspired by the King’s story of how he overcame his speech impediment.
Upon accepting his Academy Award in 2011, Seidler said he believed he was the oldest person to win the award, adding that he hoped that record was broken quickly and often. During his acceptance speech, Seidler thanked Queen Elizabeth II for not putting him in the Tower of London for using the F-word and declared that he was accepting the award on behalf of all stutterers throughout the world. The King’s Speech, which was directed by Tom Hooper and starred Colin Firth, won four Academy Awards overall, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Seidler wrote the stage version of The King’s Speech, which premiered in London’s West End in 2012. His writing credits also include Onassis: The Richest Man in the World and Francis Ford Coppola’s Tucker: The Man and His Dream. In related news, Oppenheimer was the big winner at this year’s Oscars, walking away with seven awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy.
David Seidler will always be remembered for his work on The King’s Speech, a film that shone a light on the importance of communication and never giving up in the face of overwhelming odds. Seidler’s own struggle with stammering inspired him to write the story, and his achievement in turning a difficult personal experience into a widely praised work of art will continue to inspire others to tell their stories with honesty and passion. His contribution to the world of cinema will be deeply missed
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