Nelson DeMille, a prolific writer of action-packed adventures, has died at the age of 81.
“Nelson fought a valiant nine-month battle against esophageal cancer. True to form, he faced this ordeal with courage, grace, and good humor. We mourn, but we also celebrate his wonderful life and his enduring legacy as a father, friend, and storyteller,” his family said in a statement to CBS News.
Courtesy of DeMille Family / John Ellis Kordes Photography
DeMille wrote 23 books, according to his websiteincluding two he wrote with his son, author Alex DeMille.
Born in New York City in 1943, DeMille moved to Long Island with his family and has lived there ever since. After college, he joined the US Army and served in Vietnam. After his discharge, DeMille began writing and published his first bestseller, “By the Rivers of Babylon,” in 1978.
DeMille wrote all of his manuscripts by hand, and 17 of his books have been bestsellers. Seven books were New York Times bestsellers.
He is survived by his wife and three children, Lauren, Alexander and James.