Michael Crichton poses with a skeleton while on location for the film, Coma, in 1977Photograph: MGM/APJames Olson in the film The Andromeda Strain in 1970 from the novel by Michael CrichtonPhotograph: KobalWestworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton in 1973 featured Yul Brynner as a malfunctioning robot in a futuristic amusement parkPhotograph: KobalMichael Crichton is shown on location for the film Coma in 1977Photograph: MGM/APStill from the film Coma, directed by Michael Crichton in 1977Photograph: KobalMichael Crichton on the set of The Great Train Robbery in 1979 Photograph: United Artists/APSean Connery in the film Rising Sun, 1993, from the novel written by Michael CrichtonPhotograph: KobalDemi Moore and Michael Douglas in the film Disclosure, 1994, written by Michael Crichton, in which a computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment Photograph: KobalLaura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Bob Peck in Jurassic Park, written by Michael Crichton, in 1993. The film grossed more than $900m worldwidePhotograph: Universal/PRScene from the film The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997, sequel to the blockbuster Photograph: UIP/PRMembers of the cast of ER, from left, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle and Noah Wyle rush through an emergency room set during a rehearsal for the show in 1997. Michael Crichton drew on his own medical experience to create the showPhotograph: Sven Arnstein/NBC/APMichael Crichton in Paris in 2003Photograph: Eric Robert/VIP Production/Corbis