Tom Clancy has died at the age of 66.

The author's publisher Putnam confirmed that he passed away last night (Tuesday, October 1) in a hospital in Baltimore.

Peter Brooker

"He was a thrill to work with," president of Putnam Ivan Held told the New York Times.

The author was best known for his Jack Ryan novels, many of which were adapted into films, including The Hunt for Red October, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games and The Sum of All Fears.

Actors who have played Ryan include Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. The series will be rebooted with Jack Ryan: Shadow One, directed by Kenneth Branagh and with Chris Pine in the title role.

Clancy's other most-famous character was CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer and Navy SEAL John Clark.

All of his novels except SSN, Red Storm Rising and Against All Enemies were set in the Jack Ryan/John Clark universe.

Clancy also endorsed the long-running Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series of video games. Its seventh instalment Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist was released on PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Windows this year.

His latest book Command Authority is due to be published on December 3.

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