logo
Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86

Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86

Yahooa day ago

Frederick Forsyth has died at the age of 86.
A statement released by his literary agent, Curtis Brown, said that he died at home after a brief illness surrounded by his family.
The British author, who was one of the youngest ever RAF pilots and a former journalist, published more than 25 books.
His novels, which include The Day of the Jackal, have sold over 75 million copies.
Mr Forsyth's 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.'
Mr Lloyd described how the author had used '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,' Mr Forsyth's agent continued.
The novel, The Day of The Jackal, was published in 1972 and propelled Forsyth to the status of a global bestselling author. It has since been adapted into a film and more recently, a TV series starring Eddie Redmayne.
Mr Lloyd said: '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.'
The acclaimed writer was only 17-years-old when he got into the Royal Air Force and later, when he was a journalist, worked in Paris and East Berlin at the height of the Cold War.
He has previously told The Telegraph that he had 'good luck to be able to turn lots of that [experience] into books' but that he had 'no lust to be 90'.
He wrote in the newspaper six years ago, when he was aged 80: 'So, unless I go completely crazy, which I don't intend to do, the rest of my days should be comfortable.
'As for the future, I may survive the next decade but I've no lust to be 90. I don't know what I'd do, beyond what I'm doing nowadays, which is getting up in the morning, reading the Telegraph and the Mail and having all my prejudices reconfirmed, brewing up a cup of char and then going down the pub for lunch.'
His publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, wrote: 'Transworld's long relationship with Frederick Forsyth began in 1972 with the Corgi paperback publication of The Day of the Jackal.
'With its never-before-read ice-cool writing, iconic jacket and a protagonist for the ages, The Day of the Jackal was an instant bestseller across the world and immediately propelled Freddie into a globally successful career which would span the next fifty years across books, films and most recently television.'
The popular novel remains the first and most enduring of his 16 thrillers and follows a hired assassin who targets the French president Charles de Gaulle.
The TV adaptation marked the third to reach the screen, following one fronted by Edward Fox in 1973, and another that Forsyth disowns, with Bruce Willis in 1997.
Mr Scott-Kerr continued: 'Having long held The Day of the Jackal as the blueprint of the modern thriller, I was honoured to become his editor for Avenger in 2002 and have remained so ever since.
'Working with Freddie has been one of the great pleasures of my professional life, perhaps never more so when he pulled back the curtain on his eventful life in his autobiography, The Outsider, one of the most entertaining and fascinating nonfiction books you could hope to read.'
He added that Forsyth's journalistic background 'brought a rigour and a metronomic efficiency to his working practice and his nose for and understanding of a great story kept his novels both thrillingly contemporary and fresh'.
'It was a joy and an education to watch him at work,' he continued. 'Still read by millions across the world, Freddie's thrillers define the genre and are still the benchmark to which contemporary writers aspire.
'He leaves behind a peerless legacy which will continue to excite and entertain for years to come.'
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Roman Polanski's ‘An Officer and a Spy' to Play in U.S., Six Years After Venice Premiere
Roman Polanski's ‘An Officer and a Spy' to Play in U.S., Six Years After Venice Premiere

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Roman Polanski's ‘An Officer and a Spy' to Play in U.S., Six Years After Venice Premiere

Roman Polanski's 'An Officer and a Spy' is finally getting a U.S. release, six years after premiering at the 2019 Venice Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize under Lucrecia Martel's jury. The film, which won four of its 12 César nominations including Best Director in 2020, is now set for a two-week limited engagement, starting August 8, at New York City's Film Forum. Film Forum isn't handling the release beyond showings at its own venue, IndieWire has learned, which were booked by 'An Officer and a Spy' producer Alain Goldman. News of the engagement was included deep into Film Forum's summer programming announcement that went out Monday, June 9 (and also highlighted by World of Reel). More from IndieWire 'Horsegirls' Review: The World's Most Unexpected Sport Provides a Clever Way Into This Very Personal Dramedy Chanel Returns to New York City for Its Star-Studded 18th Annual Tribeca Artists Dinner 'An Officer and a Spy' is led by Louis Garrel, who portrays French army Captain Alfred Dreyfus after his trial. The politically scandalous Dreyfus affair took place around the turn of the 19th century in France, with Dreyfus banished to Devil's Island after being found guilty of treason, accused of spreading military secrets to Germany. It was later discovered that the trial's verdict was decided upon, and with little evidence, due to Dreyfus' Jewish faith amid a climate of antisemitism in France. In the film, Jean Dujardin plays the French head of counter-espionage, Georges Picquart, who eventually helped reveal Dreyfus' innocence amid Picquart's own arrest and imprisonment for his views. The scandal was first depicted onscreen by Georges Méliès in 1899. Polanski's film comes with a personal bent: The Oscar-winning director, who has been accused and charged of various counts of sexual assault and has since exiled himself from Hollywood after numerous legal battles, distributed press notes before the premiere of 'An Officer and a Spy' at Venice, citing the parallels between his career and Dreyfus' legacy. 'I can see the same determination to deny the facts and condemn me for things I have not done,' Polanski wrote. 'My work is not therapy. However, I must admit that I am familiar with many of the workings of the apparatus of persecution shown in the film, and that has clearly inspired me.' 'An Officer and a Spy' went on to receive four nominations at the European Film Awards as well as its 12 César noms — the most that year at the French film honors — after a theatrical release in Europe. The film hasn't been seen in the U.S. until now. Polanski's last movie to receive a U.S. release was 2017's 'Based on a True Story.' Other assault allegations have followed the director since he sexually assaulted Samantha Geimer in 1977 when she was 13, leading North American distributors to distance themselves from his work. Geimer has since forgiven and even defended Polanski. 'An Officer and a Spy,' however, is not even Polanski's most recent movie. His 2023 'The Palace,' also a Venice Film Festival premiere, starred Mickey Rourke and John Cleese and garnered the kind of excorciating reviews for its eat-the-rich satire that all but guaranteed the film would never play in the U.S. It was a box-office bomb in Europe. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See

Matthew McConaughey Shares Rare Look Into Camila Alves Marriage
Matthew McConaughey Shares Rare Look Into Camila Alves Marriage

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Matthew McConaughey Shares Rare Look Into Camila Alves Marriage

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves are forgetful when it comes to this marriage milestone. The actor shared an Access Hollywood clip to his Instagram, in which Alves says "we just had one of those moments again." McConaughey and Alves tied the knot in Austin, Texas in McConaughey and Camila Alves have been married for over a decade, but even they still forget their anniversary. In a new video posted to the actor's Instagram yesterday, McConaughey shared that while they may not remember the date, they always "try to remember the meaning." In the Access Hollywood clip, McConaughey and Alves are wished a happy 13th anniversary. The couple tied the knot in Austin, Texas in 2012. "Is that it?" the couple asks in response. "Oops, we just had one of those moments again," Alves reveals. "This joke has happened many times before and we don't mean for it to happen, but for whatever reason, Camila and I never remember our anniversary," McConaughey explains. "We've been busted in many a red carpet line." McConaughey and Alves share three children together: Levi, Vida, and Livingston, who were born in 2008, 2010, and 2012, respectively. In April, the family made a rare public appearance at the 13th annual Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala. It marked their first red carpet outing together in a year. Matthew founded the organization with football coach Mack Brown and country singer Jack Ingram, and it has raised more than $61 million for charitable ventures, specifically organizations dedicated to children's education, health, and wellness. Matthew and Camila's eldest son is set to make his acting debut alongside Chris Pratt in Way of the Warrior Kid, Deadline reported. In his first-ever red carpet interview, Levi shared the advice he's received from his dad, whose career spans over three decades. 'I mean, he gave me a lot of advice, and he was able to mentor me in a couple different ways,' Levi told People. 'But I'd say the main thing for acting—and, pardon my French—is no bullshit in your bones and own what you're doing and make a choice regardless if that ends up being the right one or the wrong one. Commit to it, and know what you're saying.' Read the original article on InStyle

King Charles to Sit Out Major Royal Event in Stunning Break From Tradition
King Charles to Sit Out Major Royal Event in Stunning Break From Tradition

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

King Charles to Sit Out Major Royal Event in Stunning Break From Tradition

King Charles to Sit Out Major Royal Event in Stunning Break From Tradition originally appeared on Parade. will reportedly sit out a major royal event—the 2025 Trooping the Colour parade—in a stunning break from tradition amid his cancer battle. On Saturday, June 14, the annual event celebrating the birthday of the British sovereign will be held. Part of the day steeped in tradition includes a parade, for which the reigning monarch rides on horseback. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 However, King Charles, 76, will not ride on a horse for the 2025 Trooping the Colour, The Times reported. The eldest child of the late will instead ride in a horse-drawn carriage during the procession from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade and back. King Charles brought back the riding-on-horseback tradition for the 2023 Trooping the Colour parade, his first as monarch after Queen Elizabeth died at 96 in September 2022. Before then, Queen Elizabeth last rode on horseback for the procession in 1986. The royal also rode in a carriage with his wife, , 77, in 2024, four months after announcing his cancer diagnosis. According to The Times, King Charles is not expected to ride on horseback again at Trooping the Colour. Related: Meanwhile, , 40, and , 43, will sit out the 2025 Trooping the Colour completely amid an ongoing rift between them and the rest of the royal family after the Sussexes relocated to the U.S. in 2020. Luckily for royal fans, , 42, , 43, and their three children—Prince George, 11, , 10, and , 7—are expected to participate in the Trooping the Colour on June 14. We can't wait to see photos! Next: King Charles to Sit Out Major Royal Event in Stunning Break From Tradition first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store