Author Michael Crichton dies aged 66

Michael Crichton (pictured), the author responsible for the book Jurassic Park, has died in Los Angeles following a "courageous and private battle against cancer" aged 66. Crichton, who was born in Chicago in 1942, was also responsible for creating the long-running US hospital drama ER, which once starred George Clooney, and also wrote the bestselling thrillers The Andromeda Strain and Disclosure.

However, it is for his book Jurassic Park, which was turned into a film in 1993 starring Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum, that he is most likely to be remembered. The movie was the most successful of all time on its release and is currently the 11th-highest-grossing feature film ever.

The news of his death was broken on the writer's personal website, MichaelCrichton.net, on Thursday. A statement read: "While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us - and entertained us all while doing so - his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He did this is a wry sense of humour that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget."

Steven Spielberg, who made the film of Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, said: "Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place."

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