Obituaries

Tom Clancy, Baltimore-born Bestselling Author, Dead at 66

Clancy, best known for his espionage thrillers, died Tuesday after a brief illness.

Baltimore-born author Tom Clancy has died.

The Baltimore Sun reports the writer, best known for his espionage and miitary thrillers, died Tuesday at Johns Hopkins Hospital after a brief illness. He was 66.

Clancy's best known books follow Jack Ryan, a Baltimore-born CIA agent. Some of his Jack Ryan books have been adapted into iconic films, including "Patriot Games," "The Sum of All Fears" and "The Hunt for Red October," starring actors including Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck.

Clancy's next book, "Command Authority," is scheduled for release later this year, The New York Times reports.

Clancy attended Loyola Blakefield in Towson and graduated from what is now Loyola University Maryland in 1969, then moved to Connecticut to work in the insurance industry but soon got bored, according to the Sun report, and in 1984, he published "The Hunt for Red October."

"Although he was a world-renowned, best-selling author whose works became box office hits and video games, Tom remained rooted in Baltimore," Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement. "A devoted resident until his final day, Tom is a Baltimore icon whose legacy will forever be remembered.”

Clancy was also a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

"While he achieved international acclaim as a celebrated author, Tom, a proud Baltimorean, was a devoted Marylander, a treasured friend, and a valued partner and advisor in the Orioles ownership group. He was a regular presence at Oriole Park and enjoyed talking about baseball, the ballclub and its operations," managing partner Peter Angelos said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by Tom’s passing. He will be missed but long remembered."

Clancy also lent his name to video games, including the popular "Rainbow Six," "Ghost Recon" and "Splinter Cell" series.

What's your favorite Clancy novel? Tell us in the comments.


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