Evan Hunter was an American author and screenwriter, best known for his crime fiction. Born on October 15, 1926, in New York City, he wrote under his own name and the pseudonym Ed McBain. His most famous work is the 87th Precinct series, which features a group of detectives solving crimes in a fictional city. Hunter's writing career spanned several decades, and he published over 100 novels. In addition to his novels, he also wrote screenplays for films and television, contributing to the entertainment industry. He passed away on July 6, 2005, leaving behind a significant literary legacy.