Tom Stoppard, born Tomáš Sträussler on 3 July 1937, is a Czech-born British playwright and screenwriter. Sir Tom gained international acclaim for his contributions to various forms of media, including film, radio, stage, and television, with his works often exploring profound themes such as human rights, censorship, and political freedom. Delving into the deeper philosophical thematics of society, Stoppard has established himself as one of the most internationally performed dramatists of his generation. He was knighted for his contributions to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Stoppard's journey began in Czechoslovakia, from which he fled as a child refugee to escape the impending Nazi occupation. In 1946, after spending three years (1943–1946) in a boarding school in Darjeeling in the Indian Himalayas, he and his family settled in Britain. His early education took place in schools in Nottingham and Yorkshire, which paved the way for his career in journalism, drama criticism, and eventually, playwrighting.

His most prominent plays include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966), Jumpers (1972), Travesties (1974), Night and Day (1978), The Real Thing (1982), Arcadia (1993), The Invention of Love (1997), The Coast of Utopia (2002), Rock 'n' Roll (2006), and Leopoldstadt (2020). He also wrote the screenplays for notable films such as Brazil (1985), Empire of the Sun (1987), The Russia House (1990), Billy Bathgate (1991), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Enigma (2001), and Anna Karenina (2012), as well a