Publisher Puffin Books said: “It is with sorrow that the family of Clive King, author of several popular children’s books, including the much-loved classic Stig Of The Dump, announce that he passed away in the county of Norfolk where he had made his home on July 10.
“He is survived by his widow Penny and three children.”
Stig, first published in 1963, told the story of a young boy called Barney who comes across a caveman called Stig living in a dump at the bottom of a nearby chalk pit.
The book, which has sold more than two million copies, was inspired by King’s own adventures growing up with his three brothers in Kent.
King was born in Richmond, Surrey, before he moved with his family to Ash in Kent.
He had served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and travelled the world as a language teacher for the British Council.