MICHAEL CRICHTON - MICHAEL CRICHTON DIES OF CANCER AT 66

MICHAEL CRICHTON DIES OF CANCER AT 66

Michael Crichton, a physician who brought his knowledge of science andmedicine to the screen with such screenplays as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain and to television with E.R. , died Tuesdayof cancer in Los Angeles at age 66. NBC Universal President Jeff Zuckerpraised Crichton as a "modern-day Renaissance man," adding, "He was aphysician, writer, director and producer -- few people have done so manythings so well. As creator and producer of NBC's ER, he helped changethe face of televised drama." In recent years, Crichton broke withestablished scientific opinion on the issue of global warming, claiming inhis last novel, State of Fear, that scientific fears that it wasbeing created by pollution generated by mankind were groundless. He wasreportedly working on a new novel at the time of his illness, but hispublisher, Harper Collins , said that it did not know how advanced itwas or whether it could ever be published.

06/11/2008