The Ipcress File author Len Deighton dies aged 97
Len Deighton, whose debut novel The Ipcress File was adapted into a film starring Sir Michael Caine, has died aged 97.
Spy thriller writer Len Deighton has died aged 97.
The influential bestselling author, whose debut 1962 novel The Ipcress File was adapted into a film of the same name three years later staring Sir Michael Caine, passed away over the weekend.
His literary agent Tim Bates confirmed to the BBC that Deighton died on Sunday (15.03.26), but no cause of death has been given.
He added to The Independent newspaper: “Len was a Titan.
"He was not only one of the greatest spy and thriller writers of the 20th century but also one of our greatest writers in any genre.”
As well as serving in the Royal Air Force, Deighton studied art, and spent time working as a pastry chef, flight attendant and waiter.
He eventually found success as a book and magazine illustrator, and wrote The Ipcress File - which was remade as an ITV series four years ago, with Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole stepping into the lead role - to quell boredom on holiday.
He rarely gave interviews, but once joked that impressing a "pretty girl" was the best part of being an author.
Appearing on BBC's Desert Island Discs, he quipped: "The best thing about writing books, is being at a party and telling some pretty girl you write books.
"The worst thing is sitting at a typewriter and actually writing the book."
Deighton's novels and the portrayal of espionage was seen as a sharp contrast to the more glamourised depiction in Ian Fleming's James Bond series.
By chance, his debut was published the same month Dr No was released, but he insisted he hadn't read any of 007's adventures.
The stories focused on a grubby London, rather than the exotic locations seen in Fleming's novels, while the lead character was deliberately working class.
A friend once told him: "You’re a blunt instrument that the critics have used to smash Ian Fleming over the head.”
He was keen to make sure his character wasn't an anti-hero, and there were certain lines the author wouldn't cross.
He previously explained: "One was that violence must not solve the problem, and I cannot have the hero overcome violence with a counterweight of violence."
The unnamed hero of his debut book - who was unnamed in the novel but called Harry Palmer in the movie - appeared in more thrillers, including Horse Under Water, An Expensive Place to Die, Funeral In Berlin and Billion-Dollar Brain.
The latter two also got the feature film treatment, with Caine reprising his role.
Deighton wrote more than two dozen novels, with his final trilogy of books - Faith, Hope and Charity - concluding in 1996.
