Audrey Geisel, the widow of beloved children's book author Dr. Seuss and an avid promoter of his legacy, died this week at her California home at age 97, a representative confirmed on Friday.
Geisel married the writer, whose real name was Theodor Geisel, in 1968. After his death in 1991, she founded Dr. Seuss Enterprises to licence the characters he created and protect their use outside his books.
Audrey Geisel served as an executive producer on film adaptations of Dr. Seuss books including the current hit, The Grinch, which has earned more than $380 million at global box offices since its release in theatres last month.
Talent and literary agency ICM Partners, which represents Dr. Seuss Enterprises, confirmed that Audrey Geisel died on Wednesday.
Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated more than 45 books, including The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and How the Grinch Stole Christmas before his death at the age of 87.