John le Carré

British novelist and spy (1931–2020)
Person human Q209641
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John le Carré

Summary

John le Carré is a human[1]. Born in Poole[2], he… he was born on October 19, 1931[3]. He passed away in Royal Cornwall Hospital[4]. He died on December 12, 2020[5]. He worked as a novelist[6], screenwriter[7], film producer[8], actor[9], and spy[10]. He ranks in the top 0.43% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,946 views/month, #4,291 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • John le Carré was born in Poole[2].
  • John le Carré died in Royal Cornwall Hospital[4].
  • John le Carré was born on October 19, 1931[3].
  • John le Carré died on December 12, 2020[5].
  • John le Carré's mother was Olive Moore Cornwell[12].
  • John le Carré was married to Ann Sharp[13].
  • Among John le Carré's spouses was Jane Cornwell[14].
  • A child of John le Carré was Nick Harkaway[15].
  • A child of John le Carré was Q95902637[16].
  • John le Carré held citizenship in United Kingdom[17].
  • John le Carré held citizenship in Ireland[18].
  • English was John le Carré's native language[19].
  • John le Carré's professions included novelist[6].
  • John le Carré worked as a screenwriter[7].
  • John le Carré worked as a film producer[8].
  • John le Carré's professions included actor[9].
  • John le Carré worked as a spy[10].
  • John le Carré's professions included writer[20].
  • John le Carré's field of work was English-language literature[21].
  • John le Carré's field of work was spy fiction[22].
  • John le Carré was employed by MI5[23].
  • Among John le Carré's employers was Secret Intelligence Service[24].
  • John le Carré was employed by Eton College[25].
  • John le Carré's education included a stint at Lincoln College[26].
  • John le Carré's education included a stint at Sherborne School[27].

Body

Origins and Family

John le Carré was born in Poole[2]. He was born on October 19, 1931[3]. His mother was Olive Moore Cornwell[12]. English was his native language[19].

Education

Educated at Lincoln College[26], a college of the University of Oxford[28], in United Kingdom[29], founded in 1427[30]; Sherborne School[27], an independent school[31], in United Kingdom[32], founded in 1550[33], headquartered in Sherborne[34]; University of Bern[35], a comprehensive university[36], in Switzerland[37], founded in 1834[38], headquartered in Main building of the University of Berne[39]; and St Andrew's School, Pangbourne[40], a school[41], in United Kingdom[42], founded in 1934[43].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include novelist[6], screenwriter[7], film producer[8], actor[9], spy[10], and writer[20]. Fields of work include English-language literature[21], a sub-set of literature[44] and spy fiction[22], a literary genre[45]. Employers include MI5[23], a security agency[46], in United Kingdom[47], founded in 1909[48], headquartered in Thames House[49]; Secret Intelligence Service[24], an intelligence agency[50], in United Kingdom[51], founded in 1909[52], headquartered in London[53]; and Eton College[25], a public school[54], in United Kingdom[55], founded in 1440[56].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include The Spy Who Came in from the Cold[57], Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy[58], and The Honourable Schoolboy[59].

Recognition

Awards received include James Tait Black Memorial Prize[60], a literary award[61], in United Kingdom[62], founded in 1919[63]; The Grand Master[64], a literary award[65], in United States[66], founded in 1955[67]; Somerset Maugham Award[68], a literary award[69], in United Kingdom[70], founded in 1947[71]; Best Crime Novel in Swedish Translation[72], a literary award[73], in Sweden[74], founded in 1971[75]; Cartier Diamond Dagger[76], a literary award[77], in United Kingdom[78], founded in 1986[79]; and Helmerich Award[80], a literary award[81], in United States[82], founded in 1985[83].

Personal Life

Spouses include Ann Sharp[13] and Jane Cornwell[14], a book editor[84], 1938–2021[85]. Children include Nick Harkaway[15], a writer[86], b. 1972[87], of United Kingdom[88] and Q95902637[16], a film producer[89].

Death and Burial

John le Carré died on December 12, 2020[5]. He passed away in Royal Cornwall Hospital[4]. The cause of death was pneumonia[90].

Why It Matters

John le Carré ranks in the top 0.43% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,946 views/month, #4,291 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[91] He is known by 60 alternative names across languages and contexts.[92]

He has been cited as an influence by John Grisham[93], a writer[94], b. 1955[95], of United States[96], awarded the Helmerich Award[97], specialised in law[98].

Works attributed to him include The Constant Gardener[99], a film[100], directed by Fernando Meirelles[101]; The Night Manager[102], a written work[103]; Smiley's People[104], a written work[105]; Call for the Dead[106], a written work[107]; A Legacy of Spies[108], a literary work[109]; and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy[110], a literary work[111].

FAQs

Where was John le Carré born?

John le Carré's place of birth was Poole[2].

Where did John le Carré die?

John le Carré passed away in Royal Cornwall Hospital[4].

Who were John le Carré's parents?

John le Carré's mother was Olive Moore Cornwell[12].

Who was John le Carré married to?

John le Carré's spouses include Ann Sharp[13] and Jane Cornwell[14].

What did John le Carré do for work?

John le Carré worked as novelist[6], screenwriter[7], film producer[8], actor[9], and spy[10].

Where did John le Carré go to school?

John le Carré was educated at Lincoln College[26], Sherborne School[27], University of Bern[35], and St Andrew's School, Pangbourne[40].

What awards did John le Carré receive?

Honors received include James Tait Black Memorial Prize[60], The Grand Master[64], Somerset Maugham Award[68], and Best Crime Novel in Swedish Translation[72].

Who did John le Carré influence?

John le Carré has been cited as an influence by John Grisham[93].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

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Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

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  1. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [91] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [92] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). John le Carré. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-le-carre
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 7d ago · Tholzheim · 2026-05-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Image purged license
    Factgrid item id Q1059869
    Image needs reharvest
    Image last checked license
    + 2 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ [[Property:P8168]]: Q1059869, adds FactGrid ID"
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