Thomas Harris facts for kids

William Thomas Harris III, born on September 22, 1940, is an American writer. He is famous for his exciting suspense novels, especially those about a character named Hannibal Lecter. Many of his books have been made into movies and TV shows.

One of his most famous works is The Silence of the Lambs. The movie version of this book won many important awards, including all five main Academy Awards. This was a very rare achievement in movie history! His novels have sold over 50 million copies around the world.

About Thomas Harris

Thomas Harris was born in Jackson, Tennessee. When he was a child, his family moved to Rich, Mississippi. In elementary school, he was quiet and loved to read. Later, in high school, he became more outgoing.

He went to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied English. He graduated in 1964. While in college, he worked as a reporter for a local newspaper, the Waco Tribune-Herald. He reported on news related to the police.

In 1968, he moved to New York City and worked for the Associated Press, a news agency. He stayed there until 1974. After that, he started writing his first novel, Black Sunday.

His Life and Interests

Thomas Harris prefers to keep his life private and does not give many interviews. He was married to Harriet Anne Haley, whom he met at Baylor University. They had one daughter named Elizabeth Anne.

He was very close to his mother, Polly. He would often call her every night and talk about ideas for his books. Polly passed away in 2011.

Today, Thomas Harris lives in South Florida. He also has a summer home in Sag Harbor, New York. His long-term partner is Pace Barnes. People who know him describe him as a kind and friendly person. He enjoys cooking and is said to be very happy when he is preparing a meal.

In 2019, he gave a rare interview where he shared his love for nature. He has spent 20 years volunteering at the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Miami, Florida. This is a place that helps rescue animals. The staff there did not even know he was a famous writer for many years! He has said that being famous is "more of a nuisance" than anything else.

Books and Movies

Thomas Harris is best known for his series of novels featuring the character Hannibal Lecter. These books are:

• Red Dragon
• The Silence of the Lambs
• Hannibal
• Hannibal Rising

Many of his books have been turned into popular movies and TV shows. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie Hannibal Rising in 2007.

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Harris para niños

• Hannibal Lecter (franchise)