JAMAICA’S literary scene has lost one of its luminaries with the passing of author Anthony Winkler on Friday.

It is reported the renowned novelist died peacefully at his home in Georgia. He was 73.

Best known for his books, The Lunatic, The Painted Canoe and The Annihilation of Fish, Winkler attended Cornwall College in Montego Bay and Excelsior High School in Kingston.

Tributes have come in from film commissioner Carole Beckford who stated that Winkler was probably best known for his 1987 novel, The Lunatic, which was made into a movie by Island Pictures Film.

“In 1993 he was also listed as one of the screenwriters for Cool Runnings. In addition to The Lunatic and Cool Runnings, he also was a screenwriter for The Annihilation of Fish (1999). Among the events and places his work was celebrated was the Calabash Literary Festival, Jamaica. His work we understood drew varied emotions of which laughter was the most popular,” said Beckford.

Festival producer for Calabash, Justine Henzell, was also among those paying tribute.

“Anthony Winkler first read at Calabash in 2004 and again in 2009. It just shows how much the audience loved him that he is one of the very few authors to have been invited more than once. His skill as a writer is often overlooked when people speak about how he made them laugh but comedic writing is as challenging as comedic acting and only those who master can make it appear effortless. His stories will continue to make us blush and laugh out loud forever,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

In 2014, Winkler was awarded the Musgrave Gold Medal in recognition of his contribution to literature.

At that event, Winker told the Observer how humbled he was at the honour.

“It is such an honour. I have received the gold medal, but would have been just as happy with a tin medal,” he said.

Winkler migrated to the United States in the 1970s and lived there until his passing. He is survived by his wife Cathy, daughter Becky, and son Adam.