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| Billy Liar author Waterhouse dies | Billy Liar author Waterhouse dies |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Author and playwright Keith Waterhouse has died "quietly in his sleep" at the age of 80, a spokeswoman has announced. | Author and playwright Keith Waterhouse has died "quietly in his sleep" at the age of 80, a spokeswoman has announced. |
| Waterhouse made his screenwriting debut on the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind. | Waterhouse made his screenwriting debut on the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind. |
| But he remains best known for the 1959 novel Billy Liar - which was made into a critically acclaimed film starring Tom Courtenay in 1963. | |
| He was a prolific newspaper columnist and playwright with works including Mr and Mrs Nobody and the 1989 West End hit Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell. | He was a prolific newspaper columnist and playwright with works including Mr and Mrs Nobody and the 1989 West End hit Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell. |
| The play's original star was Peter O'Toole, who returned for the revival 10 years later at London's Old Vic. | The play's original star was Peter O'Toole, who returned for the revival 10 years later at London's Old Vic. |
| Television writing | Television writing |
| Waterhouse was one of Britain's most prolific authors, with more than 50 books, plays and television scripts to his credit. | Waterhouse was one of Britain's most prolific authors, with more than 50 books, plays and television scripts to his credit. |
| His twice-weekly column appeared in the Daily Mirror for 16 years, winning him three awards for columnist of the year in 1970, 1973 and 1978. He transferred to the Daily Mail in 1986. | His twice-weekly column appeared in the Daily Mirror for 16 years, winning him three awards for columnist of the year in 1970, 1973 and 1978. He transferred to the Daily Mail in 1986. |
| During his many years working as a journalist, he had books including Jubb, Maggie Muggins and Bimbo published- although Billy Liar remained his most admired novel. | During his many years working as a journalist, he had books including Jubb, Maggie Muggins and Bimbo published- although Billy Liar remained his most admired novel. |
| He also wrote the popular 1970s television series Budgie and Worzel Gummidge - returning to pen Worzel Gummidge Down Under in the 1980s. | He also wrote the popular 1970s television series Budgie and Worzel Gummidge - returning to pen Worzel Gummidge Down Under in the 1980s. |
| Waterhouse's work brought him a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Literature, and in 1991 he was made a CBE. | Waterhouse's work brought him a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Literature, and in 1991 he was made a CBE. |
| He was divorced twice and leaves three children. | He was divorced twice and leaves three children. |