Italian Nobel laureate Dario Fo died on Thursday, government officials told Reuters. The playwright and actor had been suffering from lung problems for several months and had spent the past 12 days in hospital, reported Corriere della Sera. He was 90.

Fo, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1997, was known for his satirical tone and sharp criticism. Through his plays, Fo criticised racism, corruption, assassination and war.

His plays have been translated into 30 languages and performed across the world. His most popular play was The Accidental Death of an Anarchist. He is also considered as one of the greatest comic actors of the 20th century.