Jackie Collins, best selling author and sister to Hollywood starlet Joan Collins has passed away at the age of 77.
Glamorous beauty, Jackie Collins dies from cancer following a nearly seven-year long battle.
The star who was renowned for her saucy books was diagnosed with breast cancer six-and-a-half years ago but chose to keep her illness entirely to herself, only telling her daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.
According to sources her famous sister, Dynasty star Joan Collins, only found out about her diagnosis two weeks ago.
Her family said in an official statement: “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today.
Sisters and best friends Jackie Collins and Joan Collins
“She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over four decades. She was a true inspiration, a trailblazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.”
Joan Collins, 82, said: “I’m completely devastated.”
“She was my best friend,” added Joan, in an interview with People. “I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and a beautiful person and I love her.”
The belles of Hollywood: Jackie Collins and Joan Collins
Jackie followed her older sister to Los Angeles in the fifties and together they were the belles of California – Joan embarked on a hugely successful film and TV career while Jackie became famous for her books that were driven by lust, power and greed, three topics many could relate to in Hollywood.
Jackie once said: “I’m a storyteller. I’m not a literary writer and I never pretended to be.” Either way all of her 32 books week New York Times bestsellers.
So raunchy was Jackie’s work that it often caused controversy, as well as outraging politician I n China and Britain, fellow author Barbara Cartland also took offence calling her work: “Filthy and disgusting.”
What made Jackie such a success was that she stood proudly behind her work and boasted she gave an unrivalled insight into Hollywood with “real people in disguise” – it’s no wonder she was such a huge success.
The legend that is Jackie Collins
To celebrate the legend of Jackie Collins, here’s some of our favourite quotes:
On her fashion:
“My weakness is wearing too much leopard print.”
On her career:
“Don’t copy my style! The first rule of writing is write about what you know, not what you think you know. So, think about what you’ve done in your life and write about that.”
On her critics:
“The biggest critics of my books are people who never read them.”
On modern stars:
“Brittany Murphy… who knows if she’s going to be around. Kirsten Dunst, I think she’s really boring. Reese Witherspoon? She can open a movie.”
On her characters:
“I write about real people in disguise. If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre.”
Images: Getty
