Elmore Leonard, the legendary writer behind crime and Western stories that have provided the basis of countless Hollywood films and shows, has died at age 87. The news comes two weeks after it was reported that he suffered a stroke.
The news was confirmed by the official Facebook page run by his family and also posted on his website. “Elmore passed away at 7:15 this morning from complications from his stroke. He was at home surrounded by his loving family,” the statement on Facebook read. It added that more information will follow soon.
Leonard suffered a stroke late last month. On Aug. 5, his longtime researcher, Gregg Sutter, issued a statement to the Detroit News, stating that “He’s doing better every day, and the family is guardedly optimistic. He’s showing great spirit. He’s a fighter, and we’re glad to see that.”
According to The Detroit Free Press, Sutter did say on Aug. 12 that Leonard was taken back to the hospital. The paper did contact Sutter, but did not get an immediate response.
Leonard wrote 45 novels and never stopped. In fact, Sutter said that he was in the middle of a 46th.
Current television viewers should know his name as the creator of Raylan Givens, the character introduced in Fire in the Hole and the inspiration for FX’s acclaimed series Justified. But Hollywood has been drawing from his work since the late 1950s. The films 3:10 To Yuma, Hombre, Out of Site, Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown and Get Shorty are all based on his work. Next month, the Toronto International Film Festival will screen The Switch, starring Tim Robbins, Mos Def and Jennifer Aniston.
image: Wikimedia Commons
