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Michael Blake, who won an Oscar for writing the script of
Dances With Wolves died at the age of 69, his manager and production partner Daniel Ostroff confirmed, reports variety.com.
According to Mr Ostroff, Mr Blake died peacefully in Tucson, Arizona, after battling a long illness.
Mr Blake wrote the novel
Dances With Wolves in 1988, before it was turned into an Oscar-winning feature film. The book went on to sell more than 3.5 million copies and was translated into 15 languages.
Mr Blake most recently wrote a screenplay based on German novel
Winnetou for Constantin Films in 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne, and three children. His family has requested that any donations made should be to the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Broncos.