Mystery Writer Donald Westlake Dies

NEW YORK — Donald Westlake, a prolific author considered one of the most successful and versatile mystery writers in the United States, has died. He was 75.

Westlake collapsed from an apparent heart attack as he headed to New Year's Eve dinner while vacationing in Mexico, his wife, Abigail, told the New York Times.

In a lengthy career that spanned a half-century, Westlake won three Edgar Awards, an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay "The Grifters" and the title of Grand Master from the Mystery Writers of America in 1993. His first novel, "The Mercenaries," was published by Random House in 1960.

Westlake wrote more than 90 books _ mostly on a typewriter. Aside from his own name, he also used several pseudonyms _ including Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Samuel Holt and Edwin West _ in part because people didn't believe he could write so much so quickly.

"In the beginning, people didn't want to publish more than one book a year by the same author," Susan Richman, his publicist at Grand Central Publishing, told the Times.

In recent years, Westlake wrote only under his name and Richard Stark, author of a dark, spare series about a one-named sociopath called Parker. More than 15 of his books were made into movies, and he wrote a number of screenplays, including "The Grifters," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1991.

Westlake continued to write until he died. His latest novel, "Get Real," is scheduled to be released in April 2009.

Donald Edwin Westlake was born July 12, 1933, in Brooklyn but was raised in Yonkers and Albany. He attended several colleges in New York but did not graduate from any of them.

He married his current wife, Abigail, in 1979, and the couple made their home in Gallatin, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, four sons from his previous marriage, three stepchildren and four grandchildren.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

Comments

[JAL12]

08:39 PM on 01/03/2009

I agree with rilkeashes­. The Ax is a great book. I asked Westlake if the movie rights had been sold and he said yes. I pray they do this book justice but given the Hollywood track record with his books, I'm not optimistic­.

[VOTER]

07:18 AM on 01/03/2009

Several years ago, I had the wonderful opportunit­y to meet Donald Westlake
and enjoyed every minute of our conversati­on. What a nice funny guy!
He entertaine­d and kept readers wanting more.
"Get Real," due out in April, 2009 ..........­......... on my list!

RIP - and condolence­s to his family and friends.

[DoctorWhoDat]

12:56 AM on 01/03/2009

Help! I'm being held a prisoner in a license plate manufactur­ing plant.

[rilkesashes]

12:54 AM on 01/03/2009

He was a terrific writer under every name. My first and still favorite book of his was The Ax, one of the great works about money and status in the American culture.

[RODERICK098]

09:51 PM on 01/03/2009

A brilliant book. It is my favourite of his as well,Some of the more 'serious' writers could learn a thing or two from him on how ro write seriously without being pretentiou­s.

[JAL12]

10:27 PM on 01/02/2009

If you will allow a prediction­, I predict people will be reading Westlake 100 years from now. He was just that good. I was saddened by the news of his death (on 12/31 my birthday no less). My best friend introduced me to him and this friend took his own life in January 1992. It's like I lost him all over again. Unbearable­. But Westlake always made us laugh and I will continue to read him in both their honors. Loved you Barry, loved you too Donald.

[Shaddup]

05:57 PM on 01/02/2009

Hell of a writer. Not only are the moods and characters of the Dortmunder and Parker books polar opposites, but they work fantastica­lly well. Parker's hard, lean and mean, and Dortmunder is funnier than your mother. Check out the opening sequence of The Grifters sometime, the way all three characters are introduced and balanced out then compare it to the opening in Jim Thompson's book; not only is it the only way to make the intro work in the world of cinema, but it's a perfect set-up, perfectly timed. There was no better way it could have been done. Westlake was a genius, and he made it look so simple. Hint: it may have been for him, but for the rest of us...?

[kingmiller]

04:32 PM on 01/02/2009

A great loss. The Dortmunder series always gave me a great big New York Smile!

[Ozarks]

12:56 PM on 01/02/2009

Thanks for Parker, best embodied by Lee Marvin in "Point Blank" Mr. Westlake , will miss you

[rabiddog6708]

12:36 PM on 01/02/2009

Thanks for all the hours of entertainm­ent you provided me (and others) through the years. You will be missed, but your words live on.

[Mort]

12:33 PM on 01/02/2009

The police should go after the butler. He's responsibl­e.

[LORISNJ]

09:56 AM on 01/03/2009

Genius!!!!

My favorite author of all time...

But I can't decide on my favorite of his books - Cops and Robbers, Hot Rocks, Help I'm Being Held Prisoner and Bank Shot but they are all delicious!

Sad day.

[Marina56]

12:31 PM on 01/02/2009

Thank you, Mr. Westlake, for so many hours of enjoyment. You were a writer who could make me laugh out loud.

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

12:21 PM on 01/02/2009

The only good thing about a great writer dying is that we will have this mans talent forever. Blessings to his family.

[musicisourhigh]

11:48 AM on 01/02/2009

May he rest in peace.

[pinellas]

11:16 AM on 01/02/2009

So sad to see him go - I've always enjoyed his work very much.

[HillaryismyHomegirl]

11:05 AM on 01/02/2009

Sad day. The Stepfather is a terrific movie thanks to Mr. Westlake's writing. That movie and (Terry O'Quinn's performanc­e) scared the bejesus out of me (and still does!)