Novelist and actor Edward Bunker, who appeared in the hit film 'Reservoir Dogs', has died. He was 71.
Bunker, who learned to write while in prison and went to on to write widely acclaimed crime novels, died at Providence St Joseph Medical Centre in Burbank, after undergoing surgery to improve his circulation.
Bunker was jailed at the age of 17 after stabbing a prison guard at a youth detention facility. He spent 18 years in prison for various crimes, including robbery and cheque forgery.
It was during this time in prison that Bunker wrote his debut novel 'No Beast So Fierce', which was made into the Dustin Hoffman-starring film 'Straight Time' in 1978.
Among his other novels were 'The Animal Factory', 'Dog Eat Dog' and 'Little Boy Blue'.
Bunker also forged a career as an actor, playing the role of Mr Blue in the 1992 film 'Reservoir Dogs' and recently playing a convict in the remake of 'The Longest Yard'.
He is survived by his son Brendan, from his marriage to Jennifer Steele.
