Frederick Forsyth

Frederick Forsyth

Forsyth in 1972, showing the bullet that grazed his head in the Biafra War
BornFrederick McCarthy Forsyth
(1938-08-25)25 August 1938
Ashford, Kent, England
Died9 June 2025(2025-06-09) (aged 86)
Jordans, Buckinghamshire, England
OccupationNovelist
EducationTonbridge School, Kent
Period1969–2025
Genre
Notable works
Spouse
  • Carole Cunningham
    (m. 1973; div. 1988)
  • Sandy Molloy
    (m. 1994; died 2024)
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1956–1958
RankPilot officer
Service number5010968
Website
www.frederickforsyth.co.uk

Frederick McCarthy Forsyth (/fɔːrˈsθ/ for-SYTH; 25 August 1938 – 9 June 2025) was an English novelist and journalist. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, The Cobra and The Kill List. Forsyth's works frequently appeared on best-sellers lists, and more than a dozen of his titles have been adapted to film. By 2006, he had sold more than 70 million books in more than 30 languages. He also worked as a journalist, first joining Reuters in 1961 before serving as an assistant diplomatic correspondent in 1965 for the BBC. He also frequently wrote a column for the middle-market newspaper Daily Express, often regarding political issues, such as his scepticism on the subject of anthropogenic climate change.