Donald E. Westlake
Author and screenwriter of crime novels

Born
July 12th, 1933
91 years ago
Died
December 31st, 2008
16 years ago — 75 years old
Category
Artists & Creatives
Country
United States
Links & References
An American author and screenwriter contributed significantly to the literary world through over 100 published works. Primarily recognized for writing crime and mystery novels, influenced the genre with clever plots and sharp wit. His most notable work includes the Parker series, featuring the character Parker, a professional thief. Westlake also achieved acclaim in screenwriting, particularly for writing the screenplay for the film adaptation of Richard Stark's novel. He received the Edgar Award multiple times, solidifying his reputation in crime fiction. His writing style combined humor and suspense, appealing to a broad audience.
Created the Parker series of novels
Won the Edgar Award for Best Novel
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