(1947-2013)

Who Was Tom Clancy?

Tom Clancy was an American author best known for his espionage, military science and technological thrillers. Clancy worked as an insurance broker before writing his first novel, The Hunt for Red October, in 1984. Ten of Clancy's books earned No. 1 rankings on The New York Times' best-seller list. More than 50 million copies of his books have been printed, and four have been made into movies.

Early Life and 'The Hunt for Red October'

Tom Clancy was born Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. on April 12, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Loyola Blakefield, a Catholic, all-boys' school in Towson, Maryland, before enrolling at Loyola College in Baltimore, where he studied literature.

Clancy worked as an insurance broker before writing his first novel, The Hunt for Red October, in 1984. The book, which told the story of a Russian submarine crew's defection, made The New York Times' best-seller list after President Ronald Reagan openly praised it. Clancy's crafting of plausible military scenarios in the novel was so realistic that, almost immediately after its release, he became a favorite of the United States military. Some of his books even became required reading at U.S. military academies.

Clancy dined with presidents; admirals and generals regularly gave him access to ships, submarines and aircraft; and Pentagon officials provided him material for upcoming projects.

Best-Seller Status Continues

Clancy would see 10 of his books earn No. 1 rankings on The New York Times' best-seller list during his lifetime. In addition to The Hunt for Red October, his published works include Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Cardinal of the Kremlin (1988), Clear and Present Danger (1989), The Sum of All Fears (1991), Without Remorse (1993), Debt of Honor (1994), Executive Orders (1996) and Rainbow Six (1998).

More than 50 million copies of Clancy's books have been printed, and four have been adapted into major films: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears, which debuted on the big screen in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 2002, respectively.

One of his most famous characters, Jack Ryan, was turned into eponymous television series starring John Krasinski. The show's second season is set to premiere in November 2019, and has been renewed for a third season.

Other Endeavors

In 1996, Clancy founded Red Storm Entertainment to create and market multimedia computer games based on his stories. Its first game, Politika, was released in November 1997. Red Storm Entertainment was later purchased by French video game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment.

In February 1998, Clancy announced plans to purchase the Minnesota Vikings at a price of nearly $200 million. The deal ultimately fell through for undisclosed reasons, however.

In 1999, Clancy partnered with Chuck Horner, general and commander of the Desert Storm air offensive, to write Every Man a Tiger, a real-life account of the Persian Gulf War from the top commander's vantage point.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2002, Clancy was ranked No. 10 on Forbes' "Celebrity 100" list of top income earners for that year.

Clancy died on October 1, 2013, in a Baltimore, Maryland, hospital. He was 66 years old. According to reports, prior to his death, Clancy was working on a new novel, Command Authority, which was released posthumously in December 2013.

QUICK FACTS

  • Name: Tom Clancy
  • Birth Year: 1947
  • Birth date: April 12, 1947
  • Birth State: Maryland
  • Birth City: Baltimore
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Tom Clancy was a New York Times best-selling American author known for writing thrillers such as 'The Hunt For Red October,' 'The Sum of All Fears' and 'Patriot Games.'
  • Industries
    • Drama
    • Cold War
    • Sci-fi
    • Crime and Terrorism
    • Fiction and Poetry
    • Action
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Loyola Blakefield
    • Loyola College
  • Death Year: 2013
  • Death date: October 1, 2013
  • Death State: Maryland
  • Death City: Baltimore
  • Death Country: United States

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CITATION INFORMATION

  • Article Title: Tom Clancy Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/tom-clancy
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 30, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

QUOTES

  • Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away.
  • The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
  • No matter what you or anyone else does, there will be someone who says that there's something bad about it.
  • What do I know about sex? I'm a married man.