Len Deighton, the British author best known for his spy novels, died on March 15, 2026, at the age of 97.
Born Leonard Cyril Deighton in Marylebone, London, on February 18, 1929, he also wrote cookery books and works on history. His publications included The IPCRESS File, and his fiction was noted for complex narrative structures, extensive research and an air of verisimilitude.
Before becoming a writer, he studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London after completing national service in the Royal Air Force.
Leonard Cyril Deighton (/ˈdeɪtən/ DAY-tən; 18 February 1929 – 15 March 2026) was a British author. His publications included cookery books and works on history, but he was best known for his spy novels.