Skip navigation

Author Frank McCourt dying, brother says

The 78-year-old writer contracted meningitis and is not expected to survive

People Frank McCourt
Peter Kramer / AP
Frank McCourt, author of "Angela's Ashes," is gravely ill with meningitis.
The Week in...  
  
Image: To match FEATURE KAZAKHSTAN-EAGLES/
Reuters
  Animal Tracks
Find a hunter holds his hawk , a snow-covered pup, a hungry chimp, a merry pair of ring-tailed lemurs, plus more images of cute critters.
Image: Steam billows from the cooling towers of Jaenschwalde coal power station near Cottbus
Reuters
  The Week in Pictures
A giant praying mantis, Festival of Sacrifice, bubble in space, Bhopal, military farewell, Afghanistan marine, Italian justice and more news and feature images from around the world.
Image: VEVO Launches Premiere Destination for Premium Music Video - Inside
Getty Images
  The Week in celebrity sightings
Taylor Swift and Rihanna check out VEVO in New York, Alexander Skarsgard parties in Hollywood, Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise stroll in Spain and more.
TODAY
  Big storm blasts much of the nation
Dec. 9: A very large snowstorm that has already dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest is heading toward the East Coast. NBC’s John Yang reports from Wisconsin and the Weather Channel’s Mike Seidel reports from Iowa.

updated 11:35 a.m. ET July 16, 2009

NEW YORK - Frank McCourt is gravely ill with meningitis and is unlikely to survive, the author's brother said Thursday.

Malachy McCourt said that his 78-year-old brother, best known for the million-selling "Angela's Ashes," is in a New York hospice with "his faculties shutting down."

"He is not expected to live," said McCourt, himself an author and performer.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Frank McCourt was recently treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, but his brother says he had been doing well until about two weeks ago, when he contracted meningitis.

"He was out and about, being active, doing talks and so forth," Malachy McCourt said.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links

Resource guide