Ed McBain was an American author best known for his crime fiction novels. Born on October 15, 1926, he created the popular 87th Precinct series, which features a group of detectives solving crimes in a fictional city. His writing is notable for its realistic portrayal of police work and urban life. McBain published over 50 novels and was a pioneer in the police procedural genre. He also wrote under the pseudonym Evan Hunter, producing works in various genres, including screenplays and young adult fiction. McBain passed away on July 6, 2005, leaving a lasting impact on crime literature.