Tom Clancy | Biography, Books, & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica

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Tom Clancy American author Ask Anything Also known as: Thomas Leo Clancy, Jr. Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 2, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

Tom Clancy (born April 12, 1947, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.—died October 1, 2013, Baltimore) was an American novelist who created the techno-thriller—a suspenseful novel that relies on extensive knowledge of military technology and espionage.

Clancy attended Loyola University in Baltimore (B.A. in English, 1969) and then worked as an insurance agent. His first novel was the surprise Cold War best seller The Hunt for Red October (1984; film 1990), which introduced his popular protagonist, CIA agent Jack Ryan, who was featured in a number of his later books. Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987; film 1992), Clear and Present Danger (1989; film 1994), The Sum of All Fears (1991; film 2002), Rainbow Six (1998), The Bear and the Dragon (2000), The Teeth of the Tiger (2003), Dead or Alive (2010), and Command Authority (2013) are subsequent novels.

Quick Facts In full: Thomas Leo Clancy, Jr. (Show more) Born: April 12, 1947, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. (Show more) Died: October 1, 2013, Baltimore (aged 66) (Show more) Notable Works: “Clear and Present Danger” “Command Authority” “Dead or Alive” “Every Man A Tiger” “Into the Storm: A Study in Command” “Patriot Games” “Rainbow Six” “Red Storm Rising” “The Bear and the Dragon” “The Hunt for Red October” “The Sum of All Fears” “The Teeth of the Tiger” (Show more) On the Web: Fresh Air Archive - Tom Clancy (Jan. 02, 2026) (Show more) See all related content

Clancy’s nonfiction works included Into the Storm: A Study in Command (1997), cowritten with Fred Franks, Jr., and Every Man a Tiger (1999; updated ed. 2005), cowritten with Chuck Horner. Clancy also created video games and was co-owner (from 1993) of the Baltimore Orioles major league baseball team.

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