Bestselling Author Eric Jerome Dickey Dies of Cancer at 59: A Literary Legend People 1/6/2021
Eric Jerome Dickey, the
New York Times bestselling author known for his work about contemporary Black life, has died at the age of 59.
Dickey died of cancer on Sunday in Los Angeles, his publicist at Penguin Random House, Emily Canders, confirmed to PEOPLE Tuesday.
Prior to his writing career, Dickey earned a degree in Computer System Technology at the University of Memphis and worked as a software developer in the aerospace industry, according to his website.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to pursue a career in engineering, but quickly found himself drawn to acting and stand-up comedy.