Elmore Leonard Dies, Best Books and Novels Remain His Legacy [VIDEO] "Dickens of Detroit" Whose Crime Dramas Get Shorty and Out of Sight Were Hollywood Favorites; Complications from Stroke Take Writer At Age 87

Elmore Leonard died this morning at the age of 87, but Elmore Leonard's best books and novels will remain with us for generations. 

Elmore Leonard wrote realistic, gritty dialogue, focusing on crime, cops and cowboys in almost 50 novels.  He wrote books that were famously turned into movies, including Get Short and Out of Sight.  More than 25 of his books were made into movies or TV.

His website, elmoreleonard.com, posted about Elmore Leonard's death.  Leonard had a stroke recently and died from the complications.

"The post I dreaded to write, and you dreaded to read. Elmore passed away at 7:15 this morning from complications from his stroke. He was at home surrounded by his loving family. More to follow."

Elmore Leonard was born in New Orleans in 1925.  He and his family moved to Detroit when the writer was very young and his father was working for General Motors. Leonard made Detroit his home, and was called "the Dickens of Detroit" by some.

Watch Elmore Leonard Video here:

Elmore Leonard had been an advertising man before become a writer.

Elmore Leonard's next book, "Blue Dreams," was supposed to be published this year.

Leonard said about his long writing career: "I don't have any reason to quit.  I still enjoy writing."

Leonard won the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in November 2012.  Others who have won this award are Toni Morrison, John Updike, Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer.  In November, Leonard received a Medal for Distinguished Contribution from the National Book Foundation, one of several honors to add to his mantelpiece. Other honors include a Peabody Award for the TV show "Justified," a Grand Master Edgar Award and a PEN Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leonard married three times and had five children with his first wife. His son Peter also went into advertising before becoming a writer.