The writer, whose book Awakenings inspired an Oscar-nominated movie starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, reportedly lost his battle with cancer at his home in New York.

Sacks was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He wrote a series of books about unusual medical conditions, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat and The Island Of The Colorblind.

Among his many honours, he was awarded a CBE medal by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was among the first people to pay tribute to Sacks after learning of his death on Sunday (30Aug15). She called him "great, humane and inspirational" in a tweet.