Trivia

His style was definitely bleak. Recurring themes in his plays were human loneliness, isolation, and alienation.

Under director Peter Glenville's guidance, he wrote the second screenplay for the 1972 film version of Man of La Mancha (1972), after the original creators of the show were fired from the film. When United Artists discovered that Hopkins' screenplay removed most of the songs from the film, he and Glenville were dismissed and Arthur Hiller, who subsequently re-hired original writer Dale Wasserman to write the third screenplay, was brought on as director.

Daughter, Sophie C. Hopkins, with Shirley Knight. Stepdaughter, actress Kaitlin Hopkins, from Shirley's first marriage.

Won two Screen Actor Guild awards.

Died when he slipped, hit his head and fell into the swimming pool. His younger daughter, Sophie, a model and writer, found him.

Began as a TV studio manager in the 50s.

Considered one of the pioneers of British television drama. His award-winning play quartet "Talking to a Stranger" is often revered as its first masterpiece written directly for the BBC.

Married (1954) and divorced from Prudence Balchin in the 60s, his second wife was actress Shirley Knight, who appeared in a number of his plays, including Economic Necessity (1973), Losing Time (1979) and Absent Forever (1987).

Studied literature at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. After graduation joined the BBC as a studio manager.

Ex-stepfather-in-law of Daniel Passer.