born Dec. 1, 1886, Noblesville, Ind., U.S.
died Oct. 27, 1975, Danbury, Conn.
U.S. writer.
He worked odd jobs until 1912, when he began to write. From 1927 he earned his living exclusively by writing. He is remembered for 46 genteel mystery novels and novelettes, beginning with Fer-de-Lance (1934), that revolve around Nero Wolfe, a brilliant, obese aesthete who solves crimes without leaving his New York City apartment. Stout endowed his detective with his own passions for haute cuisine and the growing of orchids.