Thriller author Tom Clancy has died aged 66, his publisher has confirmed to the New York Times.
The American passed away on Tuesday night in a Baltimore hospital, near his Maryland home, reports the Baltimore News Journal.
Clancy was famous for his Cold War military and espionage novels many of which spawned successful films and video games.
His first published novel, 'The Hunt For Red October', was turned into a motion picture starring Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery and grossed $200 million world-wide.
The film featured the character Jack Ryan, CIA operative involved in numerous Cold War missions who eventually becomes the Deputy Director of the organisation.
He would go on to appear in classic films such as 'Clear And Present Danger', and 'Patriot Games'.