He wrote numerous blockbusters, some of which sold more than 100 million copies, translated into 30 languages worldwide. Moreover, many of his books became major Hollywood movies, including Jurassic Park, Rising Sun and Disclosure.A man of multiple creative talents, he also co-wrote the script for the blockbuster Twister, helmed The Great Train Robbery, and in 1994 created the award-winning television series ER.
He has even had a dinosaur named for him, Crichton's ankylosaur."The Andromeda Strain", which catapulted him to Hollywood fame after it was published in 1969, told the story of US scientists battling an alien virus that lands in New Mexico from outer space and drives humans to bizarre and grisly deaths.
In "Jurassic Park", made into a blockbuster 1993 movie, Crichton's human characters were chased around by rampaging dinosaurs created genetically on an island run by an ambitious scientist."The world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us—and entertained us all while doing so," the family statement said. "His family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes", it went on. "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," the statement added.
"He leaves behind the greatest gifts of a thirst for knowledge, the desire to understand, and the wisdom to use our minds to better our world."The family appealed for privacy and said no details of the writer's funeral would be released.was born in October 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied anthropology at Harvard and taught at Cambridge University in England before spending time in Europe and North Africa.
He then returned to the United States to train as a doctor, writing thrillers to pay his university fees.His first hit, "The Andromeda Strain", was written while he was still in medical school and quickly caught on upon its release in 1969. It was a featured selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and was sold to Universal in Hollywood for $US250,000.
Steven Spielberg paid tribute to Crichton. "Michael's talent outscaled even his own dinosaurs of Jurassic Park," the producer/director said in a statement. "He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the earth. 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."
John Wells, executive producer of ER called the author "an extraordinary man. Brilliant, funny, erudite, gracious, exceptionally inquisitive and always thoughtful. No lunch with Michael lasted less than three hours and no subject was too prosaic or obscure to attract his interest. Sexual politics, medical and scientific ethics, anthropology, archaeology, economics, astronomy, astrology, quantum physics and molecular biology were all regular topics of conversation."
ER offered a fresh take on the TV medical drama, making doctors the central focus rather than patients.In the early life of ER, Crichton, who hadn't been involved in medicine for years, and Spielberg, would take part in writers' room discussions.In recent years, Crichton was the rare novelist granted a White House meeting with President George Bush, perhaps because of his scepticism about global warming, which Crichton addressed in the 2004 novel, "State of Fear"A new novel by Crichton had been tentatively scheduled to come out next month, but publisher HarperCollins said the book was postponed indefinitely because of his illness.
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