Nicholas Evans is dead: “The Horse Whisperer” author was 72 years old

British journalist and author Nicholas Evans, best known for writing The Horse Whisperer, which was adapted into a film by Robert Redford, has died of a heart attack, according to United Agents. He was 72.

In a statement, United Agents said the “well-loved” author died on Aug. 9 after suffering a heart attack. “He lived a full and happy life at his home on the banks of the River Dart in Devon,” the statement added.

Evans’ 1995 novel The Horse Whisperer sold 20 million copies worldwide and was the number one bestseller in 20 countries. It has been translated into 40 languages. He also starred in the 1998 film, which was produced and directed by Redford, alongside Scarlett Johansson, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Neill.

The inspiration for The Horse Whisperer came in 1993 when Evans met a blacksmith in south-west England who introduced him to horse whisperers – those who have the gift of healing traumatized horses by speaking to them.

Evans was born in Worcestershire in 1950 and studied law at Oxford. In the 1970s he worked as a journalist specializing in US politics and foreign policy, covering the war in Beirut. In the 1980s he worked at London Weekend Television producing films about Laurence Olivier, Francis Bacon and David Hockney for The South Bank Show. His film about director David Lean led to the legendary filmmaker becoming his mentor.

Evans’ credits as a writer and producer include Murder by the Book, Act of Betrayal, Secret Weapon and Just Like a Woman. He also wrote the best-selling novels The Loop, The Smoke Jumper, The Divide, and The Brave.

He is survived by his wife Charlotte and children Finlay, Lauren, Max and Harry.