Prince of Tides Author Pat Conroy Dead at 70

Posted on March 6, 2016

Author Pat Conroy has died at the age of 70. The bestselling author of such novels asThe Lords of Discipline, Prince of Tides and The Great Santini died from pancreatic cancer.

Conroy announced last month that he had cancer. He died at home, surrounded by his family. NPR's Tom Vitale did a great show remembering this unique American author, including discussions with Conroy's long time editor, Nan Talese of Doubleday.

In his interviews with NPR Conroy talked about his childhood with his domineering father who appeared in his novel The Great Santini. In the film version of the book, Robert Duvall played the Marine aviator father who treats his children like raw recruits.

At his father's urging Conroy attended the Citadel where he began to write, although there were no classes about writing at the legendary military academy. The Lords of Discipline was also turned into a film starring David Keith, Robert Prosky, Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton. The movie's unflattering portrayal of life at a military academy caused all the academies the studio contacted to refuse permission to film on campus.

His novel Prince of Tides was turned into a film by Barbra Streisand, who directed and starred as the psychiatrist treating a damaged patient from South Carolina played by Nick Nolte. Barbra became good friends with Conroy during the filming and posted her heartfelt condolences on instagram today. She said, "First, I fell in love with Pat Conroy’s book, The Prince of Tides, and then I fell in love with him. He was generous and kind, humble and loving...such a joy to work with. I was so honored that he entrusted his beautiful book to me."

Conroy also wrote a popular cookbook called The Pat Conroy Cookbook which was an autobiography told through food. He said of the book, "This book is the story of my life as it relates to the subject of food. It is my autobiography in food and meals and restaurants and countries far and near." Conroy finished his last novel before he died. It is tentatively called Aquarius. The release date has not yet been set.