Editing Robert Ludlum

{{short description|American novelist (1927–2001)}}
{{distinguish|Robert Ludlam}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = Robert Ludlum
| image = Robert Ludlum (1927-2001).jpg
| caption = Robert Ludlum portrait photo
| pseudonym = Jonathan Ryder <br> Michael Shepherd
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|5|25}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[New York City]], U.S.}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|3|12|1927|5|25}}
| death_place = {{nowrap|[[Naples, Florida]], U.S.}}
| occupation = Novelist
|alma_mater = [[Wesleyan University]], B.A. 1951
| genre = [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]], [[spy fiction]], [[Mystery fiction|mystery]]
| notableworks = ''[[Bourne (novel series)|The Bourne Trilogy]]''
| spouse = Mary Ryducha<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/mar/14/guardianobituaries.books|title=Robert Ludlum|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=February 23, 2014|date=March 14, 2001 |first=John |last=Williams}}</ref> <br> Karen Dunn<ref>{{cite web|url=https://booknotesplus.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/stranger-than-fiction-spotlight-on-an-author-7/|title=Stranger Than Fiction - Spotlight on an Author|date=October 3, 2013}}</ref>
| children = 3
| influences =
| influenced =
}}

'''Robert Ludlum''' (May 25, 1927 – March 12, 2001) was an American author of 27 [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] novels, best known as the creator of [[Jason Bourne]] from the original ''[[Bourne (novel series)|The Bourne Trilogy]]'' series. The number of copies of his books in print is estimated between 300 million and 500 million.<ref>Ludlum, Robert, ''Prometheus Deception'', 2000. Preface by the publisher, Orion Publishing.</ref><ref>[http://www.legacy.com/ns/news-story.aspx?t=the-ludlum-conspiracy&id=277 "The Ludlum conspiracy"] at ''Legacy.com''.</ref> They have been published in 33 languages and 40 countries. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms '''Jonathan Ryder''' and '''Michael Shepherd'''.<ref name=Kirjasto>{{cite web |url=http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ludlum.htm |title=Robert Ludlum |website=Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) |first=Petri |last=Liukkonen |publisher=[[Kuusankoski]] Public Library |location=Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331131750/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ludlum.htm |archive-date=March 31, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Life and career==
===Early life and education===
Ludlum was born in [[New York City]], the son of Margaret (née Wadsworth) and George Hartford Ludlum. He was educated at the [[Rectory School]] then [[Cheshire Academy]] and [[Wesleyan University]] in [[Middletown, Connecticut]], where he earned a B.A. in [[Drama]] in 1951.<ref>Gina Macdonald, [https://books.google.com/books?id=iU9-UCNiiFkC&dq=Margaret+Wadsworth+George+Hartford+Ludlum&pg=PA1 "The Life of Robert Ludlum"], ''Robert Ludlum: A Critical Companion'', Greenwood Press, 1997, pp. 1-3.</ref> 

===Career===
Prior to becoming an author, he had been a [[United States Marine]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Robert Ludlum  |first=Jack |last=Adrian |date=March 4, 2001 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> a theatrical actor and producer. In the 1950s, he produced shows at the Grant Lee theater in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey]]. From 1960 to 1970, he managed and produced shows at the Playhouse on the Mall at [[The Outlets at Bergen Town Center|Bergen Mall]] in [[Paramus, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Garvie|first1=Glenn|title=Remembering Playhouse on the Mall|url=http://www.bergencounty.com/history-and-trivia/remembering-playhouse-on-the-mall-in-bergen-county-nj-1.1293172|website=www.bergencounty.com|publisher=(201) Magazine|access-date=25 March 2015}}</ref> His theatrical experience may have contributed to his understanding of the energy, escapism and action that the public wanted in a novel. He once remarked: "I equate suspense and good theater in a very similar way. I think it's all suspense and what-happens-next. From that point of view, yes, I guess, I am theatrical."<ref name=Kirjasto />

Many of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including ''[[The Osterman Weekend]]'', ''[[The Holcroft Covenant]]'', ''[[The Apocalypse Watch]]'', ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'', ''[[The Bourne Supremacy (film)|The Bourne Supremacy]]'' and ''[[The Bourne Ultimatum (film)|The Bourne Ultimatum]]''. ''[[Covert One: The Hades Factor]]'', a book co-written with [[Gayle Lynds]], was originally conceived as a mini-series; the book evolved from a short treatment Ludlum wrote for [[NBC]]. The Bourne movies, starring [[Matt Damon]] in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (''The Bourne Ultimatum'' won three [[Academy Award]]s in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.

During the 1970s, Ludlum lived in [[Leonia, New Jersey]], where he spent hours each day writing at his home.<ref>{{cite news|author=Klemsrud, Judy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/10/archives/behind-the-best-sellers-robert-ludlum.html |title=Behind the Best Sellers: Robert Ludlum|work=[[The New York Times]]|date= July 10, 1977|access-date= March 30, 2011|author-link=Judy Lee Klemesrud }} "He writes for six or seven hours in an office in his house in Leonia."</ref>

===Death===
Ludlum died of a heart attack on March 12, 2001, at his home in [[Naples, Florida]], while recovering from severe burns caused by a mysterious fire which occurred on February 10, 2001.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-times-obituary-robert-ludlum-hnrnp90q83v | location=London |work=[[The Times]] | title=The Times obituary: Robert Ludlum | date=August 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-robert-ludlum-controversy-nephew-raises-questions-about-top-thriller-writers-death/story-e6frg6so-1226009074660 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408082327/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-robert-ludlum-controversy-nephew-raises-questions-about-top-thriller-writers-death/story-e6frg6so-1226009074660 | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 8, 2011 | work=The Australian | title=The Robert Ludlum controversy: nephew raises questions about top thriller writer's death | date=February 21, 2011}}</ref>

In 2005, the company which held all merchandising rights for Ludlum's works via his estate, Ludlum Entertainment, signed an agreement with [[Vivendi Games|Vivendi Universal Games]] to handle video game rights for ten years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fritz|first=Ben|date=2005-08-10|title=Gamer spies opportunity|url=https://variety.com/2005/digital/features/gamer-spies-opportunity-1117927241/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> The license expired in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bourne license escapes from Activision|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bourne-license-escapes-from-activision/1100-6195189/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=GameSpot|language=en-US}}</ref> On November 20, 2008, the Ludlum estate signed a deal with [[Universal Pictures]] to develop feature films based on the works of Robert Ludlum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=2008-11-21|title=Ludlum 'Bourne' again at Universal|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/ludlum-bourne-again-at-universal-1117996277/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> On February 2, 2009, his estate transferred video game rights to Ludlum’s work to [[Electronic Arts]] after [[Activision]] took over [[Vivendi Games]]' assets.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Graser|first=Marc|date=2009-02-03|title=Electronic Arts pacts with Ludlum|url=https://variety.com/2009/digital/markets-festivals/electronic-arts-pacts-with-ludlum-1117999472/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Writing analysis==
Ludlum's novels typically feature one heroic man, or a small group of crusading individuals, in a struggle against powerful adversaries whose intentions and motivations are evil and who are capable of using political and economic mechanisms in frightening ways. The world in his writings is one where global corporations, shadowy military forces and government organizations all conspired to preserve (if it was evil) or undermine (if it was law-abiding) the status quo.

Ludlum's novels were often inspired by [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], both historical and contemporary. He wrote that ''[[The Matarese Circle]]'' was inspired by rumors about the [[Trilateral Commission]], and it was published only a few years after the commission was founded. His depictions of terrorism in books such as ''[[The Holcroft Covenant]]'' and ''The Matarese Circle'' reflected the theory that terrorists, rather than being merely isolated bands of ideologically or politically motivated extremists, are actually pawns of governments or private organizations who are using them to facilitate the establishment of authoritarian rule.

==Bibliography==
{{main|Robert Ludlum bibliography}}

==Filmography==
Many of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and miniseries, although the storylines might depart significantly from the source material. In general, a miniseries is more faithful to the original novel on which it is based.  Adaptations of Ludlum's works are published under the [[trademark]] '''Treadstone''', which is held by the executor of the Robert Ludlum estate.<ref>{{cite web|title=TREADSTONE - Trademark Details|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/863/64/treadstone-86364266.html|website=JUSTIA Trademarks|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref>
*1977 – ''The Rhinemann Exchange'' — miniseries — [[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]] as David Spaulding, [[Lauren Hutton]] as Leslie Jenner Hawkewood
*1983 – ''[[The Osterman Weekend (film)|The Osterman Weekend]]'' — film — [[Rutger Hauer]] as John Tanner, [[Sam Peckinpah]] directed
*1985 – ''[[The Holcroft Covenant (film)|The Holcroft Covenant]]'' — film — [[Michael Caine]] as Noel Holcroft <!-- promotional material does not show Noel as "Noël" -->
*1988 – ''[[The Bourne Identity (1988 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'' — miniseries — [[Richard Chamberlain]] as Jason Bourne, [[Jaclyn Smith]] as Marie St. Jacques
*1997 – ''The Apocalypse Watch'' — miniseries — [[Patrick Bergin]] as Drew Latham
*2002 – ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'' — film — [[Matt Damon]] as [[Jason Bourne]] and [[Franka Potente]] as Marie Helena Kreutz
*2004 – ''[[The Bourne Supremacy (film)|The Bourne Supremacy]]'' — film — [[Matt Damon]] as Jason Bourne
*2006 – ''[[Covert One: The Hades Factor]]'' — miniseries — [[Stephen Dorff]] as Jon Smith
*2007 – ''[[The Bourne Ultimatum (film)|The Bourne Ultimatum]]'' — film — [[Matt Damon]] as Jason Bourne
*2012 – ''[[The Bourne Legacy (film)|The Bourne Legacy]]'' — film — starring [[Jeremy Renner]], [[Rachel Weisz]] and [[Edward Norton]]
*2016 – ''[[Jason Bourne (film)|Jason Bourne]]'' — film — [[Matt Damon]] as Jason Bourne
*TBA – ''[[The Chancellor Manuscript#Film|The Chancellor Manuscript]]'' — film — [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] as Peter Chancellor<sup>1</sup><ref>{{cite news|title=Marc Forster to Direct Robert Ludlum's The Chancellor Manuscript|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/marc-forster-to-direct-robert-ludlums-the-chancellor-manuscript/|access-date=July 17, 2013|newspaper=slashfilm.com|date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*TBA – ''[[The Janson Directive#Adaptations|The Janson Directive]]'' — film — [[John Cena]] as Paul Janson<sup>1</sup><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/the-janson-directive-john-cena/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501235637/https://www.slashfilm.com/the-janson-directive-john-cena/|title=John Cena Replaces Dwayne Johnson as Lead in 'The Janson Directive'|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2018|publisher=Slashfilm.com|access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref>

<sup>1</sup> announced/in development

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[Airport novel]]
* [[Publishers Weekly lists of bestselling novels in the United States|''Publishers Weekly'' lists of bestselling novels in the United States]]
* [[Spy fiction]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
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*[http://robertludlum.com/ Official Robert Ludlum website]
* {{IMDb name|0524924}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604132300/http://www.iblist.com/author.php?id=671 Robert Ludlum] at the Internet Book List

{{Robert Ludlum}}
{{Jason Bourne}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ludlum, Robert}}
[[Category:Robert Ludlum| ]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American spy fiction writers]]
[[Category:American thriller writers]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Wesleyan University alumni]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York City]]
[[Category:American postmodern writers]]
[[Category:Cheshire Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Leonia, New Jersey]]