Biography: Peter Levin Shaffer was born on May 15, 1926 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England to Reka Fredman and Jack Shaffer. He studied history at Trinity College in Cambridge. In New York, he worked in a bookstore and at the New York Public Library. His partner was Robert Leonard.

Film/TV Credits: Film credits include: "Amadeus," "Equus," "The Royal Hunt of the Sun," "The Public Eye," and "Five Finger Exercise." Television credits include: "Midsomer Murders," "Arena," "This Is Your Life," "BBC Play of the Month," "ITV Play of the Week," and "Studio One in Hollywood."

Other Awards: Won an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for "Amadeus" in 1985. Received the William Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre in 1992. Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007.

Trivia:
He published "How Doth the Little Crocodile?" and several other mystery novels with his brother under the joint pseudonym Peter Anthony.
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 New Year's Honours List.
The marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor on June 16, 2016.