Peter Benchley, the author of 1974 novel 'Jaws' - the book on which Stephen Spielberg's blockbuster was based - died at the weekend at his home in Princeton, New Jersey. He was 65.
Wendy Benchley, his wife of 41 years, said he died from complications of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition he was diagnosed with last year.
'Jaws' - both novel and a film - terrified beachgoers and kept many out of the water for years.
It sold more than 20 million copies, and Benchley even had a cameo as a reporter in the 1975 Spielberg film.
He co-wrote the screenplay for 'Jaws' as well as several other novels, including 'The Deep' and 'The Island'.
His wife said he was especially proud of his conservation work.
"He cared very much about sharks," said Wendy Benchley. "He spent most of his life trying to explain to people that if you are in the ocean, you're in the shark's territory, so it behoves you to take precautions."
Benchley is survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
