US EditionErich Von Däniken, Swiss Writer Who Spawned Alien Archaeology, Dies at 90
Erich von Däniken sold 75 million books in over 30 languages, popularizing ancient astronaut theories despite scientific criticism.
- On January 11, 2026, Cornelia von Däniken told Keystone‑SDA that Erich von Däniken died of old age at a hospital in Interlaken, canton Bern.
- The 1968 publication Chariots of the Gods triggered a science-fiction boom and conquered bestseller lists, establishing von Däniken's international profile.
- Von Däniken authored 49 books that sold 75 million copies and were translated into more than 30 languages.
- Known worldwide for controversial claims about ancient gods, von Däniken shifted from amateur researcher to entrepreneur and founded his foundation.
- Born April 14, 1935 in Zofingen, canton Aargau, von Däniken became a global figure but struggled for acceptance in Switzerland; websites dedicated to Erich von Däniken also posted news of his death.
118 Articles
118 Articles
Erich von Däniken, a Swiss writer whose best-selling books on the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among enthusiasts of the paranormal and contempt of the scientific community, has died at age 90.The author's representatives announced on their website that he died on Saturday in a hospital in central Switzerland.His daughter Cornelia confirmed the information to the Swiss news agency SDA.Von Däniken jumped to fa…
Swiss writer Erich von Däniken has died. The author of Chariots of the Gods has died at the age of 90, his family confirmed.
The author has written dozens of books about the alleged traces he believes aliens have left on Earth.
Who was Erich von Däniken? Controversial author behind ancient alien ideas dies at 90
Erich von Däniken, author of ‘Chariots of the Gods?’, died at 90. His controversial theories on extraterrestrial influences in ancient civilizations made him a cult figure, despite scientific criticism. His works sold around 70 million copies worldwide, establishing him as a prominent Swiss author.
Swiss writer Eric von Däniken, who contributed to the popularization of the idea that Earth was visited by aliens in the distant past to help lay the foundations of human civilization, has died at the age of 91, Swiss media reported.
He leapt to fame for his works on the intervention of extraterrestrials in the history of humanity, especially for the first, 'Remembers of the future'
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