Dan Simmons, Celebrated Author of Hyperion, Dies at 77 from Stroke

DeAnna JanesSat, February 28, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC

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(Photo by Sophie Bassouls on Getty Images)

Celebrated author Dan Simmons has died. He was 77 years old.

A resident of Longmont, Colorado, Simmons died with his wife and daughter by his side, his obituary shares. According to a friend's post on X (formerly Twitter), he passed away from a stroke Saturday, Feb. 21.

Simmons was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1948. He taught elementary school in Missouri, New York, and Colorado. One of the most impactful things he did as schoolteacher was to help create and teach a districtwide program for gifted students; it was the first of its kind and led to Simmons being named a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year Award.

“Every day after lunch, Dan told his students a daily installment of an epic tale that started on the first day of school,” his obituary shares. “As they listened, the students would color illustrations that he’d drawn for them. When the story finally came to an end on the last day of school, many recall being reduced to tears. This story would go on to become Dan’s Hyperion cantos.”

Perhaps his biggest claim to fame was his writing. Over the course of his life, he authored more than 30 science fiction novels and short story collections that have been translated into at least 20 languages.

His debut novel, Song of Kali, won the 1986 World Fantasy Award, while his 1989 sci-fi debut, Hyperion, won the Hugo Award. Further book awards include the Shirley Jackson Award and Bram Stoker awards.

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Simmons’ 2007 novel The Terror got the small-screen treatement with a critically acclaimed limited series on AMC, released in 2018.

Since his passing, tributes have poured in.

One from fellow writer David Morrell reads, “My dear friend & incomparable author Dan Simmons died Saturday from a stroke at age 77. He defied literary norms, exploring historical fiction, horror, crime & other genres.”

Keep scrolling for more tributes on social media.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”