Nelson DeMille, the renowned suspense author, died aged 81 after a nine-month struggle with esophageal cancer, his family reported. His children, Lauren and Alex DeMille, said he handled his sickness with courage, grace, and humor.
Born in New York City on August 23, 1943, and raised on Long Island, DeMille became famous for his action-packed novels like Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General’s Daughter, which was adapted into a 1999 film starring John Travolta. Despite mixed reviews, DeMille expressed his overall satisfaction with the movie in a 2000 interview.
Before beginning his writing career, DeMille served in the United States Army, earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam. Throughout his life, he published 23 novels, 17 of which became best-sellers. He was noted for writing longhand with pencils and legal pads.
Many of DeMille’s works featured the character John Corey, an ex-NYPD officer working with an Anti-T3rr0rist Task Force. Corey’s politically incorrect persona was both controversial and beloved by readers. DeMille resisted attempts by publishers to make the character more politically correct, saying he wrote for his readers, not for publishers.
DeMille is survived by his children Lauren, Alex, and James. His wife, Sandra, passed away in 2018.