Michael Crichton: 1942-2008

Author Michael Crichton poses at The Peninsula Hotel in New York, Dec. 7, 2004. The best-selling author who made scientific research terrifying and irresistible in such thrillers as "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" and "The Andromeda Strain," died of cancer Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Author Michael Crichton poses at The Peninsula Hotel in New York, Dec. 7, 2004. Crichton, 66, died after a long battle with cancer Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in Los Angeles. A new novel by Crichton had been tentatively scheduled to come out on December, but publisher HarperCollins said the book was postponed indefinitely because of his illness.

In 1969 at age 26, Michael Crichton was a Harvard medical school student and author of his first hit, "Andromeda Strain." While in medical school, he wrote novels under the pen names John Lange and Jeffery Hudson. The 6-foot-9-inch tall author was also a screenwriter and filmmaker, earning producing and writing credits for the film versions of many of his titles. He was married five times and has one daughter.

Director Michael Crichton is shown on location for the film "Coma" in 1977. Crichton died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 in Los Angeles, at age 66. He had been privately battling cancer, according to his family. An author, film producer, television producer and medical doctor, Crichton wrote more than 300 episodes of TV's "ER," which is in its 15th and final season.

Director Michael Crichton poses with a skeleton while on location for the film "Coma" in 1977. If not a literary giant -- he sold more than 150 million copies of his books worldwide -- he was a physical one, standing 6 feet and 9 inches tall.

Director Michael Crichton, right, and producer Paul Lazarus III, are shown on the set of "Westworld" in 1973. Crichton penned such historic and prehistoric science fantasies as "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" and "The Andromeda Strain." He was a medical doctor before he became an author. In 1994, he created the award-winning TV hospital series "ER." He's even had a dinosaur named for him, Crichton's ankylosaur.

Writer Michael Crichton is shown in 1975. He died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in Los Angeles, at age 66, after a private battle with cancer. "Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand," his family said in a statement.

Writer and director Michael Crichton is shown on the set of his film "The Great Train Robbery." Many of his books became major Hollywood movies, including "Jurassic Park," "Rising Sun" and "Disclosure." He co-wrote the script for the blockbuster "Twister" and created the TV series, "ER."