L.J. Smith, the author best known for creating the Vampire Diaries universe, died on 8 March 2025 in Walnut Creek, California. She was 66 years old.
L.J. Smith dies: What’s the cause of death?
Her death was confirmed by her partner Julie Divola and her sister Judy Clifford, who revealed that Smith died in hospital due to complications from a rare autoimmune disease she had been battling for the past decade.
The condition, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, had left Smith with long-term damage to her heart, liver, kidneys, and gallbladder and had previously placed her on a ventilator for several weeks in 2015.
Smith resided in Danville, California, at the time of her death.
L.J. Smith biography
Lisa Jane Smith was born on 4 September 1958, in Villa Park, California.
Her passion for writing began in early childhood and was encouraged by her high school English teacher. She studied experimental psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later obtained her teaching credentials from San Francisco State University.
Smith worked briefly as an elementary school teacher before committing to writing full-time in 1989. Her debut novel, The Night of the Solstice, was published in 1987, followed by Heart of Valor in 1990.
However, her major breakthrough came in 1991 when she released The Vampire Diaries, a series commissioned by Alloy Entertainment.
The success of The Vampire Diaries led to several other young adult paranormal series, including The Secret Circle, Night World, The Forbidden Game, and Dark Visions.
In total, Smith’s work contributed to shaping a generation of YA supernatural fiction.
Her career faced a major shift in 2011 when a dispute with her publisher led to her being replaced by a ghostwriter for future Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle books.
Smith continued to write fan fiction using her original characters, maintaining a connection with her readers.
Outside of her writing career, Smith took a decade-long break from publishing to care for her sister’s children after her brother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Reactions to L.J. Smith’s death
Smith’s passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, authors, and readers across the globe. Here are some of the reactions we picked:
L.J. Smith is survived by her partner, Julie Divola, her sister, and extended family.