Tom Clancy, the world-renowned best-selling author who once tried to buy the Minnesota Vikings, has died, Variety reports.
He was 66.
The Hollywood trade publication cited a report from the New York Times. Clancy’s death was confirmed by his publisher.
Clancy reportedly died Tuesday night at a Baltimore hospital. A post on the author’s Facebook page simply read, “1947 – 2013: Beloved Author, Colleague, Friend, Patriot.”
CNN says the cause of death has not yet been revealed.
An avid sports fan, Clancy attempted to buy the Vikings in 1998 for a reported $200 million, the Star Tribune says.
The deal fell apart, though, for undisclosed reasons, according to Biography.
Clancy created the character of Jack Ryan, a CIA agent featured in such blockbuster novels as “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Sum of All Fears” — all of which were adapted into feature films.
Alec Baldwin starred in “Red October,” followed by Harrison Ford for “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger,” and Ben Affleck for “The Sum of All Fears.”
In all, Clancy wrote more than 100 books, selling a reported 50 million copies.
