Jackie Collins, famed for her racy novels such as Hollywood Wives and The Stud, has died of breast cancer aged 77. The British-born bestselling writer, who wrote 32 novels of glamour, sex and affairs in Hollywood, had kept her cancer secret from all but her closest family for more than six years and died in Los Angeles.
Her older sister, actor Dame Joan Collins, 82, who had only recently been informed of the diagnosis, according to People magazine, was “completely devastated”.
“She was my best friend. I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and a beautiful person and I love her,” she said.
Collins was married twice and is survived by her three daughters.
In a statement the family said she had broken new ground for female writers in fiction. “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today.
“She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining over four decades.
“She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.”