Best selling author Michael Crichton has died at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer.

The medical doctor turned novelist, whose books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, passed away unexpectedly in Los Angeles, his family said.

Author of books such as the Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park, more than a dozen of his novels have been turned into Hollywood blockbusters.

Jurassic Park proved such a success he wrote a sequel, The Lost World.

He also won an Emmy for the popular TV hospital drama ER.

Born in Chicago in 1942, he wrote his first novels while attending Harvard medical school.

His family says a private funeral service will be held for the writer.

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