He wrote 23 novels which have been published in more than 30 languages, selling 54 million copies worldwide.
In 2010, he was named Grand Master of Horror by the World of Horror Convention.
He was born in London's East End, and won a scholarship to St Aloysius Grammar School in Highgate at the age of 10. After taking a college course in graphic design, he worked at an ad agency.
He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Literature.