He might have been thought of first and foremost as a novelist, but without Elmore Leonard's work cinema would be much poorer. The man behind Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, Out Of Sight and 3.10 To Yuma, he was a powerful presence at every level of the industry. His novels were adapted, he wrote screenplays, he inspired generations of other writers and he also worked in production, bringing TV viewers the recent hit series Justified.
Leonard was born in New Orleans but lived most f his life in Detroit. He started out writing Westerns but went on to focus on mystery and crime, with his thrillers also influencing the giallo film movement in Italy. Altogether, 26 of his novels and stories were adapted for the screen. He was celebrated for his ability to write naturalistic dialogue and always put character at the centre of his work.
Leonard died at his home following a stroke. He was 87. Married three times, he is survived by five children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
