Έφυγε από τη ζωή ο διάσημος συγγραφέας, Μάικλ Κράιτον

Associated Press

Ο Μάικλ Κράιτον είναι ο δημιουργός της γνωστής τηλεοπτικής σειράς «Στην Εντατική»

Λος Αντζελες. Ο αμερικανός συγγραφέας, Μάικλ Κράιτον, δημιουργός πολλών επιτυχημένων μυθιστορημάτων, μεταξύ των οποίων το διάσημο «Τζουράσικ Παρκ», έφυγε από τη ζωή στο Λος Αντζελες της Καλιφόρνια, σε ηλικία 66 ετών, ανακοινώθηκε από την προσωπική του ιστοσελίδα. Ο Κράιτον έφυγε από τη ζωή την Τρίτη, υποκύπτοντας στον καρκίνο, σημειώνουν τα τηλεοπτικά δίκτυα CBS και CNN, επικαλούμενα την οικογένειά του. Ο αμερικανός συγγραφέας έχει δημοσιεύσει πάνω από δέκα μπεστ σέλερ, τα οποία πωλούν πάνω από 100 εκατ. αντίτυπα σε 30 γλώσσες σε όλο τον κόσμο και είναι επίσης ο δημιουργός της γνωστής τηλεοπτικής σειράς «Στην Εντατική», άλλης μιας παγκόσμιας επιτυχίας.

'Jurassic Park' author, 'ER' creator Crichton dies

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Crichton, who helped create the TV show "ER" and wrote the best-sellers "Jurassic Park," "The Andromeda Strain," "Sphere" and "Rising Sun," has died in Los Angeles, his public relations firm said in a news release.

Michael Crichton, here in 2005, was a director and best-selling author. He co-created the TV series "ER."

Crichton died unexpectedly Tuesday "after a courageous and private battle against cancer," the release said. He was 66. Crichton, a medical doctor, was attracted to cautionary science tales.

"Jurassic Park" -- perhaps his best-known work -- concerned capturing the DNA of dinosaurs and bringing them to life on a modern island, where they soon run amok; "The Andromeda Strain," his first major fiction success, involves an alien microorganism that's studied in a special military compound after causing death in a nearby community.

Crichton also invited controversy with some of his scientific views. He was an avowed skeptic of global climate change, giving lectures warning against "consensus science." He later took on global warming and the theories surrounding it in his 2004 novel, "State of Fear," which attracted attacks in its own right from scientists, including NASA climatologist James Hansen. iReport.com: Were you a fan? Share your tributes.

Crichton was a distinctive figure in the entertainment business, a trained physician whose interests included writing, filmmaking and television. (He was physically distinctive as well, standing 6 feet 9 inches.)

He published "The Andromeda Strain" while he was still a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He wrote a story about a 19th-century train robbery, called "The Great Train Robbery," and then directed the 1979 film version.

He also directed several other films, including "Westworld" (1973), "Coma" (1978), "Looker" (1981) and "Runaway" (1984).

In 1993, while working on the film version of "Jurassic Park" with Steven Spielberg, he teamed with the director to create "ER." The NBC series set in a Chicago emergency room debuted in 1994 and became a huge hit, making a star of George Clooney. Crichton originally wrote the script for the pilot in 1974.

Though most of Crichton's books were major best-sellers, he could ruffle feathers when he took on social issues. "Rising Sun" (1992) came out during a time when Americans feared Japanese ascendance, particularly when it came to technology. "Disclosure" (1994) was about a sexual harassment case.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, a Writers Guild of America Award for "ER," and won other awards as well.

"Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand," the news release said.