Day of the Jackal author and former MI6 agent Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
Author Frederick Forsyth, best known for writing thrillers including The Day of the Jackal, has died aged 86.
Throughout his career, the English novelist and journalist sold more than 70 million books in more than 30 languages.
Some of them included The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, The Cobra and The Kill List.
More than a dozen of his titles have been adapted for screen, including 1971's The Day of the Jackal, which was made into a movie in 1973.
Last year Sky released a TV version, which starred Eddie Redmayne as the titular character.
It's now been announced the novelist died earlier today after a brief illness.
His literary agents Curtis Brown said that the best-selling author was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning.
Born in Ashford, Kent, in 1938, Forsyth completed his National Service in the Royal Air Force as a pilot.
He then went on to pursue a career in journalism, joining Reuters in 1961 before moving to the BBC four years later.
Working as an assistant diplomatic correspondent, Forsyth began by covering French affairs and the attempted assassination of Charles de Gaulle and then reporting on the Nigerian Civil War.
After quitting his job and working as a freelance reporter, he released his first book, The Biafra Story, in 1969.
Although he went on to write a string of hugely successful novels, he once said he only turned to writing fiction due to needing to make money rathe than any desire to become a novelist.
Reflecting on writing The Day of the Jackal – his first full-length novel – Forsyth said he wrote it because he was 'skint, stony broke'.
That book debuted to glowing reviews and won the 1972 Best Novel Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. More Trending
Decades later – in 2015 – he revealed that he'd been an informant for MI6 for over 20 years.
Forsyth also narrated several documentaries, including Jesus Christ Airlines, Soldiers: A History of Men in Battle and I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal.
His last book – 2018's The Fox – was released in 2018.
Forsyth was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1997 New Year Honours list for services to literature.
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ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth, born in Ashford, dies aged 86
The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth has died at the age of 86, following a brief illness, his literary agents said. The best-selling author, who was born in Ashford, Kent, was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning, Curtis Brown added. The former RAF pilot and investigative journalist went on to write novels including The Fox, The Kill List, and The Afghan. His agent Jonathan Lloyd said: 'We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers. 'Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life – In My Own Words, to be released later this year on BBC1 – and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived. 'After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra. 'Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, The Day Of The Jackal, and instantly became a global best-selling author. 'He went on to write more than 25 books (many of which were made into films) that have sold over 75 million copies. 'He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, all of us at Curtis Brown and of course his millions of fans around the world – though his books will of course live on forever.' Born in Ashford, Kent, in 1938, Forsyth – known to his friends as 'Freddie' – began his career in the Royal Air Force in 1956 before leaving after two years to pursue a career in journalism. He covered international stories and the attempted assassination of French general Charles de Gaulle, which provided inspiration for his best-selling novel, The Day Of The Jackal. Published in 1971, the book was turned into a film starring Edward Fox as the Jackal in 1973. Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne took on the mantle of the elusive assassin last year in a TV adaptation for Sky Atlantic, also starring The Woman King actress Lashana Lynch. In his 2015 memoir The Outsider: My Life In Intrigue, he revealed that he had extensive involvement with MI6 and was recruited to facilitate communications during the Cold War. The author won two Edgar Awards, one in 1972 for best novel with The Day Of The Jackal and again in 1983 for best short story with There Are No Snakes in Ireland. In 1997, he was made a CBE in the New Years Honours List for his services to literature and in 2000 he became the first high-profile British writer to agree to publish a book exclusively on the internet. Forsyth married his late wife Sandy Molloy in 1994 and lived with her in Buckinghamshire until her death in 2024. Singer and actress Elaine Paige paid tribute to the late author with a post on X: 'Total sadness to hear my friend #FrederickForsyth, author, has passed. 'His academic knowledge of places, palaces & geography was bar none. He'll be much missed for so many reasons.' Conservative MP Sir David Davis has also paid tribute to his friend, describing him as a 'terrific man' and a 'fabulous wordsmith'. The politician told Sky News that the author was a 'great friend' of his, adding: 'He was a great believer in the old values – he believed in honour and patriotism and courage and directness and straightforwardness and a big defender of our armed forces. 'A terrific man, a great loss. I mean my condolences go to his family, his children and so on, but… we haven't got many authors like him and we will miss him greatly.' The MP also spoke of Forsyth's time as a journalist and said: 'He was a driven man in all sorts of ways but just such a fabulous wordsmith. He hadn't started out with doing the English degrees and so on, it was just in his heart from the beginning I think.'
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
The best-selling author was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning, Curtis Brown added. The former RAF pilot and investigative journalist went on to write novels including The Fox, The Kill List, and The Afghan. His agent Jonathan Lloyd said: 'We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers. Novelist Frederick Forsyth has died (Anthony Devlin/PA) 'Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life – In My Own Words, to be released later this year on BBC1 – and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived. 'After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra. 'Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, The Day Of The Jackal, and instantly became a global best-selling author. 'He went on to write more than 25 books (many of which were made into films) that have sold over 75 million copies. 'He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, all of us at Curtis Brown and of course his millions of fans around the world – though his books will of course live on forever.' Born in Ashford, Kent, in 1938, Forsyth – known to his friends as 'Freddie' – began his career in the Royal Air Force in 1956 before leaving after two years to pursue a career in journalism. He covered international stories and the attempted assassination of French general Charles de Gaulle which provided inspiration for his best-selling novel, The Day Of The Jackal, which was published in 1971 and turned into a film starring Edward Fox as the Jackal in 1973. Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne took on the mantle of the elusive assassin last year in a TV adaption for Sky Atlantic, also starring The Woman King actress Lashana Lynch. In 2000, Forsyth became the first high-profile British writer to agree to publish a book exclusively on the internet. In his 2015 memoir The Outsider: My Life In Intrigue, he revealed that he had extensive involvement with MI6.
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Powys County Times
The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth has died at the age of 86, after a brief illness, his literary agents said. The best-selling author was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning, Curtis Brown added. The former RAF pilot and investigative journalist went on to write novels including The Fox, The Kill List, and The Afghan. His agent Jonathan Lloyd said: 'We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers. 'Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life – In My Own Words, to be released later this year on BBC1 – and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived. 'After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra. 'Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, The Day Of The Jackal, and instantly became a global best-selling author. 'He went on to write more than 25 books (many of which were made into films) that have sold over 75 million copies. 'He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, all of us at Curtis Brown and of course his millions of fans around the world – though his books will of course live on forever.' Born in Ashford, Kent, in 1938, Forsyth – known to his friends as 'Freddie' – began his career in the Royal Air Force in 1956 before leaving after two years to pursue a career in journalism. He covered international stories and the attempted assassination of French general Charles de Gaulle which provided inspiration for his best-selling novel, The Day Of The Jackal, which was published in 1971 and turned into a film starring Edward Fox as the Jackal in 1973. Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne took on the mantle of the elusive assassin last year in a TV adaption for Sky Atlantic, also starring The Woman King actress Lashana Lynch. In 2000, Forsyth became the first high-profile British writer to agree to publish a book exclusively on the internet.
