RIP Michael Crichton

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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Crichton, a best-selling author, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, his public relations firm said in a news release.

He "died unexpectedly," the release said, "after a courageous and private battle against cancer."

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The year 2008 has claimed another one of the greats.

Michael Crichton has died of cancer at age 66.

We know him for his many books that became major Hollywood movies.

He gave us Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Sphere, Rising Sun, Twister, Disclosure, Congo, Coma, The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Timeline, The 13th Warrior, Looker, Runaway, The Andromeda Strain, Westworld, and he created the TV drama ER.

Steven Spielberg, who worked numerous times with Crichton, released the following statement:

Michael's talent out-scaled even his own dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park." He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the earth. In the early days, Michael had just sold "The Andromeda Strain" to Robert Wise at Universal and I had recently signed on as a contract TV director there. My first assignment was to show Michael Crichton around the Universal lot. We became friends and professionally "Jurassic Park," "ER," and "Twister" followed. Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place.

[rodsky]

I just saw this in CNN's website...

Been a Crichton fan since "Westworld" (1973).

A very sad day for me.

-RODION

[kazuya]

this is so unfortunate... bago pa gani si robert jordan si michael crichton napud namatay

[diatabz]

Always have and always will be a fan. RIP Michael Crichton.

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A lot of well known celebrities died this year.

[Dorothea]

This made me sad. Crichton's wonderful stories have kept me company on many a lonely night. A personal favorite of mine is 'A Case of Need', one of his early works, written under a pseudonym.

Thank you for giving the world a wealth of information and imagination, Mr Crichton. We will miss you. Rest in peace.

[enginars]

may he rest in peace.

[xxkatgorgeousxx]

OMG..huhuhu..this made me feel really bad..

[abuot]

One of the best..he changed my views on "State of Fear"..Rest in Peace