Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton poses with a skeleton while on location for the film, Coma, in 1977 Photograph: MGM/AP

James Olson in the film The Andromeda Strain in 1970 from the novel by Michael Crichton Photograph: Kobal

Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton in 1973 featured Yul Brynner as a malfunctioning robot in a futuristic amusement park Photograph: Kobal

Michael Crichton is shown on location for the film Coma in 1977 Photograph: MGM/AP

Still from the film Coma, directed by Michael Crichton in 1977 Photograph: Kobal

Michael Crichton on the set of The Great Train Robbery in 1979 Photograph: United Artists/AP

Sean Connery in the film Rising Sun, 1993, from the novel written by Michael Crichton Photograph: Kobal

Demi Moore and Michael Douglas in the film Disclosure, 1994, written by Michael Crichton, in which a computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment Photograph: Kobal

Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Bob Peck in Jurassic Park, written by Michael Crichton, in 1993. The film grossed more than $900m worldwide Photograph: Universal/PR

Scene from the film The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997, sequel to the blockbuster Photograph: UIP/PR

Members of the cast of ER, from left, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle and Noah Wyle rush through an emergency room set during a rehearsal for the show in 1997. Michael Crichton drew on his own medical experience to create the show Photograph: Sven Arnstein/NBC/AP

Michael Crichton in Paris in 2003 Photograph: Eric Robert/VIP Production/Corbis