The Day Of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86

Irish Examiner

10-06-2025

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 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.'
Novelist Frederick Forsyth has died (Anthony Devlin/PA)
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 adaption for Sky Atlantic, also starring The Woman King actress Lashana Lynch.
Sandy Molloy and Frederick Forsyth attending the Frost Summer Party Fundraiser (Ian West/PA)
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.
Frederick Forsyth arriving for the opening night of From Here to Eternity at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. (Ian West/PA)
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 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.'
English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber also shared a tribute on social media describing Forsyth as 'one of the finest thriller writers of all time'.
In a statement he shared on Instagram, he added: 'Having written the score for the film of The Odessa File, I knew Frederick was an obvious choice for the story which became Love Never Dies.
'He really understood the romance and thrills which make the Phantom such an alluring character.
'Thank you Frederick, for creating stories which will live on for generations in your honour. We will miss you.'