RIPJoan Collins’ Sister Jackie Collins Has Died at Age 77

Jackie Collins, a best-selling romance novelist and the sister of actress Joan Collins, has sadly died after battling breast cancer. She was 77-years-old.

“It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today,” the Collins family told People in an official statement on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Jackie at a book signing in June 2015.

“She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over [four] decades. She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words,” the statement read.

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Jackie — who was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer six-and-a-half years ago — kept her battle private from the public and primarily confided in her three daughters, Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.

Jackie (left) with her sister Joan (right) in February 2015.

Throughout her four-decade career as a writer, Jackie published 32 novels — all of which appeared on the The New York Times bestsellers list — that have sold over 500 million copies worldwide. Her latest, The Santangelos, hit bookshelves in June.

Our thoughts are with the Collins family during this difficult time.