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Playwright and Nobel laureate Harold Pinter, famous for his brooding, unforgiving portrayals of domestic life, has died aged 78, media reported today.

Mr Pinter, who had been suffering from cancer, died yesterday. 

Lady Antonia Fraser, told the Guardiannewspaper: "He was a great, and it was a privilege to live with him for over 33 years. He will never be forgotten."

Mr Pinter was due to pick up an honorary degree earlier this month from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

But the east London-born playwright, director, actor, poet and political activist was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness.

During his lifetime he was widely accepted as one of the world's greatest playwrights.

Mr Pinter shot to fame with works including The Birthday Partyand Betrayal. 

He was well-known for his left-wing political views and was a vociferous critic of US and UK foreign policy, voicing opposition on a number of issues including the bombing of Afghanistan in 2001.