Crime writer Elmore Leonard dies, aged 87

The author died from complications arising from a stroke he had earlier this month.

CRIME AUTHOR and screenwriter Elmore Leonard has died today, aged 87.

A post on his Facebook page today, written by his researcher Greg Sutter, said he passed away at 7.15am from complications from a stroke he had earlier this month.

Sutter said it was “the post I dreaded to write, and you dreaded to read.”

Born in 1925 in New Orleans, Leonard was best known for his novels ‘Get Shorty’ and ‘Rum Punch’ but wrote a total of 45 books before his death. Many of his books have been adapted as films with ‘Rum Punch’ inspiring Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’.

Sutter said that the author was “at home, surrounded by his loving family” when he passed away.

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