Author Elmore Leonard Dead at 87

Many of the writer's works were adapted for both movies and TV

Elmore Leonard, the beloved best-selling author, died on Tuesday. He was 87.

"The post I dreaded to write, and you dreaded to read. Elmore passed away at 7:15 this morning from complications from his stroke," the writer's researcher sadly announced on Leonard's Facebook page. "He was at home surrounded by his loving family."

Leonard had suffered a stroke on July 29.

Born in New Orleans, Leonard later moved with his family to Detroit, where he would reside for the remainder of his life.

Throughout his career, Leonard wrote more than 45 books and dozens of short stories, many of which were turned into movies or adapted for TV including the films Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Hombre, Mr. Majestyk, Jackie Brown, 3:10 to Yuma as well as the FX series Justified.

Next month's Toronto International Film Festival will actually close with the world premiere of Daniel Schechter's crime story Life of Crime, based on Leonard's novel The Switch. The movie stars Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes, Mos Def, Isla Fisher and Tim Robbins.

Leonard is survived by five children, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.