Tom Clancy Dead: "The Hunt for Red October" Author Died This Morning in Baltimore Hospital / Cause of Death Unknown [PHOTOS]

Author Tom Clancy, known for his work on his Jack Ryan series and "The Hunt for Red October," died this morning in a Baltimore hospital. The cause of death is unknown. Clancy published 28 books in his lifetime, many of which were best sellers. Several of his books were turned into Hollywood blockbusters. Clancy was working on a new novel titled "Command Authority" when he died, which was scheduled for a December publication. Clancy also inspired several video games, such as "Rainbow Six," "Ghost Recon," and "Splinter Cell."

Clancy's writing gained him a solid fan base in the worlds' armed forces, and he frequently talked with various officers to get inspiration for his writing. He was careful to never reveal any secrets to endanger national security. He was interviewed by CNN in 2003 on the matter, and said, "I'll never decide for commercial reasons to put something in that endangers our national security. You just can't do that. There was one thing, I discussed with a friend of mine in the Royal Navy. I told him a story that I knew, and he said, well, Tom, you may never repeat that, as long as you live. And I haven't."

Forbes wrote, "Clancy can produce a guaranteed bestseller just by writing two words: his name. When it comes to leveraging his brand across multiple channels, he is positively protean." Clancy's net worth is said to be around $300 million and he was a life long Republican and member of the National Rifle Association.