Born in Sales, Cheshire, England; educated at University of Manchester and Exeter University. Son of a small shopkeeper, he attended Manchester Grammar School. He later said that he made poor uses of his opportunities there. He went to work in an insurance office, but later entered Manchester University, taking a degree in History. A post-graduate year at Exeter University led to a schoolmaster's position, first at a village school in Devon, then for seven years at Millfield. During this time he wrote a dozen radio plays, which were broadcast. Encouraged by the London success of his stage play Flowering Cherry he left teaching for full-time writing. 1960 saw two of his plays (The Tiger and the Horse and A Man for All Seasons) running concurrently in the West End. Despite his assertion that the "film writer is regarded as a technician, like an electrician," Bolt's writing has enjoyed a degree of respect in the movie world usually found only in the theater. He won two best screenplay Oscars®, one for his collaboration with David Lean, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965), and one for Fred Zinnemann's A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966). The critics took less kindly to his sole directorial effort, LADY CAROLINE LAMB (1972). He also wrote the screenplays for RYAN'S DAUGHTER (1970), THE BOUNTY (1984), AND THE MISSION (1986). Appointed a CBE in 1972. Married to actress Sarah Miles (1967-76). They remarried in 1988 and remained together until his death. His son from his first marriage is director Ben Bolt (b. 1952).  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1962: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (w. Michael Wilson)  Writing (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1965: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO  Writing (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1966: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 3 nominations, 2 Awards