Jim Harrison, Legends Of The Fall’ Author, Dies At 78

Legends of the Fall author Jim Harrison died Saturday at his home in Patagonia, Ariz. He was 78.

Jim Harrison Dies

Harrison’s death was announced by his publisher. The writer passed away in his study while working on a poem, Grove Atlantic CEO Morgan Entrekin told CNN. “We are very sad to hear about his death,” Entrekin said. “He left a great body of work that is going to live on.”

Over the course of his life, Harrison published more than 30 books. Among those books were novels, collections of essays and poems. He had initially pursued a career strictly as a poet until branching out into prose works, including novellas and short stories, on advice given to him by his fellow writer pal Thomas McGuane.

Harrison’s books were rarely a commercial success, but he did receive ample critical acclaim. His work also got the attention of Hollywood, which first picked up his novella Revenge for a film adaptation starring Kevin Costner, Madeline Stowe and Anthony Quinn. Harrison is likely best known for novel Legends of the Fall. Brad Pitt, Henry Thomas, Aiden Quinn and Julia Ormond starred in the 1994 film that helped launched Pitt’s career as a leading man and collected $160 million at the worldwide box office.

Harrison’s Wolf was also made into a feature film.

In addition to being a writer, Harrison prided himself on being an avid outdoorsman, who would hike, fish, hunt and cook his haul. His appreciation for the outdoors was often evident in his writing.

Harrison was predeceased by his wife last year. He is survived by their two daughters.