Len Deighton

Novelist

Birthday February 18, 1929

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace London, England

DEATH DATE Mar 15, 2026 (97)

#24,958 Most Popular

About

Military historian, graphic artist, cookbook author, and fiction writer who was best known for his spy novel, The IPCRESS File, which was later adapted into a film. His other published works included Declarations of War, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Spy, and Basic French Cooking.

Before fame

He developed an interest in spy stories after witnessing the arrest of Nazi spy Anna Wolcoff when he was eleven years old. In his early adulthood, he worked for the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Air Force.

Trivia

He created the first British cover for Jack Kerouac's famous novel, On the Road. He had 15 film and TV projects adapted from his work. 

Family life

He was born in London to a mechanic and chauffeur father and a cook mother. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1955.

Associated with

His novel, The IPCRESS File, was made into a film starring Michael Caine.