Clive Cussler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clive Cussler
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Cussler in 2011
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| Born | Clive Eric Cussler July 15, 1931 Aurora, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2020 (aged 88) Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Period | 1973–2020 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Notable works | Dirk Pitt series |
| Spouse |
Barbara Knight
(m. 1955; died 2003)
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| Children |
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Clive Eric Cussler (born July 15, 1931 – died February 24, 2020) was an American writer of exciting adventure novels. He was also a real-life underwater explorer. Many of his thrilling books, especially those about the character Dirk Pitt, became huge bestsellers.
Cussler started and led the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). This group has found more than 60 shipwrecks and other important things underwater. He wrote or helped write over 80 books during his career.
Contents
About Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler was born in Aurora, Illinois, and grew up in Alhambra, California. His family had roots in England and Germany.
When he was 14, Cussler earned the rank of Eagle Scout. This is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. He went to Pasadena City College for two years. Then, he joined the United States Air Force during the Korean War. While in the Air Force, he became a sergeant. He worked on airplanes as a mechanic and flight engineer.
After leaving the military, Cussler worked in advertising. He wrote ads and later became a creative director. He made many radio and TV commercials. Some of his ads even won international awards.
In 1996, Cussler wrote his first non-fiction book, The Sea Hunters. Because of this book, he received a special degree in 1997. It was the first time in 123 years that the State University of New York Maritime College gave such an award. In 2002, he received the Naval Heritage Award. This was for his important work in exploring the ocean.
Cussler was also a member of several famous groups. These included the Explorers Club in New York and the Royal Geographical Society in London.
His Amazing Books
Clive Cussler started writing in 1965. His wife had a night job, so he had free time after putting his children to bed. He decided to try writing stories. His most famous character is Dirk Pitt. Pitt is a marine engineer, a government agent, and a brave adventurer.
Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels often explore "what if" ideas. For example, "what if Atlantis was real?" or "what if Abraham Lincoln was kidnapped instead of assassinated?"
His first two Pitt books were exciting sea adventures. But his third book, Raise the Titanic!, made him famous. This book set the style for his future novels. They were full of big adventures and cool technology. They often featured bad guys who wanted to control the world. There were also lost ships, beautiful women, and hidden treasures.
Cussler's novels usually start with a chapter from the past. This chapter often seems separate from the main story at first. But later, the main characters find a mystery. This mystery connects the past event to their current adventure. Often, a lost ship or plane carrying something important is found much later.
Cussler's books are like "techno-thrillers." This means they combine technology with exciting plots. His Pitt novels are similar to James Bond or Indiana Jones movies. They have big, exciting scenes and surprising plot twists. Dirk Pitt himself is a larger-than-life hero.
Clive Cussler had 17 books in a row that became New York Times bestsellers. This shows how popular his stories were.
Real-Life Discoveries with NUMA
Clive Cussler was also a real-life explorer of the underwater world. He found more than 60 shipwreck sites. He wrote non-fiction books about these amazing discoveries. He also founded the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). This is a non-profit group named after the fictional agency in his books.
Some important discoveries by NUMA include:
- The RMS Carpathia: This ship was famous for being the first to help survivors of the RMS Titanic.
- The CSS Manassas: This was the first ironclad ship used in the Civil War.
NUMA also once thought they found the Mary Celeste. This was a famous "ghost ship" found empty but with its cargo still there. However, later research questioned if it was truly the Mary Celeste.
Fun Facts from His Books
Clive Cussler often wrote himself into his books. At first, it was just a small joke. He would appear briefly to help the main characters. Sometimes, he would give them important information. His character often had a strange name, and readers would only realize it was Cussler at the end of his scene. He appeared in the Dirk Pitt Adventures and the Fargo Adventures. His wife, Janet, even appeared in one book called The Tombs.
There are other fun, hidden jokes in his novels. For example, the name "Leigh Hunt" appears in 17 of his books. These characters are often sailors and usually die in the opening parts of the story. Cussler said a real Leigh Hunt died in 2007, and he dedicated a book to him. Also, many important events in his novels happen on July 15th. This is Clive Cussler's birthday! He also used the name "Periwinkle" for different things, like a donkey or a boat.
Movies Based on His Books
Clive Cussler's novels were so popular that some were made into movies.
- The first movie was Raise the Titanic! (1980). It starred Richard Jordan as Dirk Pitt.
- Paramount Pictures released Sahara on April 8, 2005. Matthew McConaughey played Dirk Pitt, and Penélope Cruz played Eva Rojas.
His Family Life
Clive Cussler married Barbara Knight in 1955. They were married for almost 50 years until she passed away in 2003. They had three children: Teri, Dirk, and Dayna. They also had four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Clive Cussler's daughter, Teri, created and manages the Cussler Museum. It is in Arvada, Colorado. Here, you can see Cussler's amazing collection of classic cars. After Barbara's death, Cussler married Janet Horvath, who survived him. He lived part-time in Arizona and Colorado.
Clive Cussler passed away at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on February 24, 2020. He was 88 years old.
