Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Dan Brown
June 22, 1964
Exeter, New Hampshire, US
62 Years Old
Cancer
Who Is Dan Brown?
Daniel Gerhard Brown is an American novelist renowned for intricate plots that blend history, art, and codes. He crafts fast-paced thrillers which often explore the interplay between science and religion.
His breakout moment arrived with The Da Vinci Code novel, which became a global bestseller in 2003, captivating millions with its controversial themes and puzzle-like narrative. The book's immense popularity cemented Brown's status as a leading voice in contemporary suspense fiction.
Early Life and Education
Family life profoundly shaped Dan Brown's early years in Exeter, New Hampshire, where his father taught mathematics and his mother was a church organist. This unique home environment fostered a deep fascination with puzzles, codes, and the paradoxical intersection of science and religion.
He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and later graduated from Amherst College with degrees in English and Spanish, further cultivating his storytelling and intellectual interests. Brown also studied art history for a year at the University of Seville, a period which greatly informed his later literary works.
Notable Relationships
A long-term arc of relationships has marked Dan Brown's personal life, most notably his marriage to Blythe Newlon from 1997, which ended in divorce around 2019–2021.
More recently, Brown confirmed his engagement to Dutch equestrian Judith Pietersen, a relationship acknowledged in the acknowledgments of his 2025 novel The Secret of Secrets.
Career Highlights
Dan Brown's career is defined by the immense success of his Robert Langdon novel series, featuring the critically acclaimed The Da Vinci Code, which sold over 80 million copies. His books, including Angels & Demons and Inferno, consistently topped bestseller lists and became global phenomena.
Beyond print, Brown expanded his reach through major film adaptations of his works, with Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno all hitting the big screen. These adaptations, along with a television series for The Lost Symbol, further solidified his cultural footprint.
To date, Brown has sold over 250 million books worldwide and was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2005, cementing his legacy as a fixture in modern pop culture.
Signature Quote
“Science and religion are not at odds. Science is simply too young to understand.”