Screenwriter and Novelist William Goldman Has Passed Away

Maybe you were dazzled by the magical storytelling of The Princess Bride, perhaps you were enamored by the Hole in the Wall Gang from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or you might have been enthralled by the cinematic depiction of one of Stephen King's Misery. If you have a love of cinema, chances are you're familiar with the work of screenwriter and novelist William Goldman, who has passed away at the age of 87.

Multiple outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, share the news of Goldman's passing, with Goldman's daughter Jenny telling The Washington Post that he passed away due to "complications from colon cancer and pneumonia."

A prolific novelist who wrote one of the essential books on screenwriting and the filmmaking industry (1983's Adventures in the Screen Trade), Goldman worked in many genres as a screenwriter, but he left an especially indelible mark on the horror genre, including adapting Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives for the big screen, as well as Stephen King's Misery. Goldman also adapted his own novel Magic into a screenplay for the 1978 movie of the same name, which introduced horror fans to a haunting ventriloquist dummy that still provides ample nightmare fuel upon repeat viewings.

In addition to Misery, Goldman also wrote the screenplay based on King's Hearts in Atlantis, and he worked on the screenplay for the adaptation of Dreamcatcher. John Carpenter fans may also be familiar from the work Goldman did as one of the co-writers on Memoirs of an Invisible Man (based on H.F. Saint's novel of the same name).

Our thoughts are with Goldman's family and friends during this difficult time. While Goldman may no longer be with us, his writing will live on as exemplary works that are as insightful and relatable as they are entertaining.

Photo credit: Above photo from William Goldman's Facebook page.