Dorothy Gilman, author of the Mrs. Pollifax mystery series, passed away at her Rye Brook, N.Y. home on Feb. 2, 2012. The 88-year-old author’s death was caused by complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, according to her New York Times obituary.
The Mystery Writers of America (MWA) recognized Gilman’s contribution to mystery fiction in 2010 when it named her as a Grand Master. At that time Frankie Y. Bailey, MWA Executive Vice President, offered this assessment of her work: "During her long writing career, Dorothy Gilman has helped to shape the mystery genre. MWA is delighted to have this opportunity to honor Ms. Gilman for her work."
Bailey had particular praise for Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax series, which features a widowed New Jersey grandmother who, in her 60s, takes on a new career as a CIA agent. Gilman wrote 14 novels in this series, beginning in 1966 with The Unexpected Mrs Pollifax and concluding in 2000 with Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled.
Two movies were based on Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax books. The 1971 United Artists feature film Mrs. Pollifax – Spy starred Rosalind Russell. Angela Lansbury appeared in the 1999 CBS made-for-television movie The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax.
Born in New Brunswick, N.J. on June 25, 1923, Dorothy Gilman began her writing career as an author of children’s books. Her 1945 marriage to Edgar A. Butters Jr. ended in divorce in 1965. The couple had two sons, Christopher and Jonathan.
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