Acclaimed Writer Elmore Leonard Dead at 87

Elmore Leonard, the iconic scribe of more than 40 novels died Tuesday at his Bloomfield Village home surrounded by family, the Detroit News reported. He died of complications from a stroke suffered earlier this month. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The University of Detroit alumnus and former advertising copywriter became a legend in literary circles for his gritty characters and yarns about crime and life on the streets.

Hollywood productions based upon his work include works include “Hombre,” “Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight,” “Jackie Brown,” and the current FX network series "Justified." 

He was notorious for his work ethic, writing often before his 7 a.m. shift as an ad man with Campbell Ewald, and then from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily without lunch breaks once he turned to writing full time. He told Patch he never left a scene unfinished before it was time to stop for the day.

"That's what I've done all my life, for 60 years now, and it's worked out," the former Birmingham resident said during a special appearance in January 2012 at the Baldwin Public Library with son, Peter. 

"I've had an awful lot of fun writing."