Ian Falconer Cause of Death

Ian Falconer, the author of the “Olivia” books and more than thirty New Yorker covers, died on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the age of sixty-three, after a brief illness.

During his short but illustrious career, he designed numerous opera and ballet sets and costumes.

Ian Falconer’s “Olivia” books featured Olivia, a clever piglet with a great imagination whom he created in 1996 for his young niece. Their family and friends encouraged him to continue developing the character.

“Olivia,” the first book in the series, was released in 2000. It spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list, received the Caldecott Honor, and has sold over 10 million copies.

He wrote and illustrated seven sequels, the most recent being “Olivia the Spy,” released in 2017.

In 2022, he released “Two Dogs,” a new children’s book. Last year, he told NPR that the characters, a pair of dachshunds named Perry and Augie, were inspired by his nephews.

Ian Falconer is survived by his mother Sandy and sisters Tonia and Tory, as well as nieces and nephews Olivia, Ian, August, Perry and Will.