Michael Crichton, writer and filmmaker, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles on November 4 after a courageous and private battle against cancer, his official website reported. Crichton was perhaps best known as the author of Jurassic Park and the creator of the television series ER. His first bestseller, The Andromeda Strain, was published while he was attending Harvard Medical School. Of his twenty-two published books, thirteen have been made into films. Crichton’s most recent novel, Next, was published in December 2006.