David Seidler: Oscar-winning screenwriter of ‘The King’s Speech’ dies – report

David Seidler, the Oscar-winning screenwriter for the movie “The King’s Speech,” has died at the age of 86, according to reports.

The London-born screenwriter, who has suffered from a stutter since childhood, was inspired to write the true story of how King George VI overcame his speech impediment on the eve of World War II.

Seidler died on Saturday during a fly fishing trip in New Zealand, his manager Jeff Aghassi said, according to US media reports.

Mr Agassi said: “David was in the place he loved most in the world – New Zealand – doing what brought him the greatest peace, and that was fly fishing.

“If given the chance, it will go exactly according to his script.”

Seidler won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 2010 film The King’s Speech.

“I accept this on behalf of all people who stutter around the world. We have a voice and our voices are heard,” he said while accepting his Oscar at the 2011 Academy Awards.

The historical drama stars Colin Firth, who also won the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing the king.

Seidler also participated in the stage adaptation of the film, which premiered in London’s West End in 2012.

His other credits include the 1988 biopic Onassis: The World’s Richest Man, starring Raul Julia as Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Le won his first Writers Guild Award for this.

That same year, Seidler co-wrote the comedy Tucker: The Man and His Dream with Francis Ford Coppola.

Other projects include writing scripts for the animated children’s musicals The King and I, Finding Camelot and Madeleine: Lost in Paris.

He is survived by two adult children, Mark and Maya.