Footage of John Le Carre at the 2011 premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and at the 2018 premiere of Little Drummer Girl at the BFI London Film Festival. Cold War espionage author David Cornwell, known by his pen name John le Carre, has died aged 89 after a battle with pneumonia. Among his 25 novels were acclaimed best-sellers including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and The Night Manager.