Robert Ludlum, a renowned American author and playwright, died on March 12, 2001 at the age of 73. His works of fiction and plays have captivated audiences and readers worldwide, with over 290 million copies of his books sold in 32 languages. Ludlum was born in New York City and raised in Texas and New Jersey. He studied drama at amateurs jobs, including time training actors for film and television who'd later appear in well-known works such as To Have and Have Not and Casablanca. He devised his own method for teaching based on improvisation and role-playing and formed the Robert Ludlum Studio in Manhattan in 1956. Ludlum began writing in 1969 and published his first mystery novel, The Scarlatti Inheritance in 1971. This was followed by The Osterman Weekend, The Matarese Circle, The Holcroft Covenant, The Mosaic, The Aquitaine Progression, The Matarese Countdown, The Chancellor Manuscript, Trevayne and The Cry of the Halidon. He also wrote several non-fiction books and many plays. With the success of his novels, Royal Mail dedicated a stamp issue to him in 2007. Ludlum passed away at his home in Naples, Florida after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his two sons.