Author Leon Uris is seen in this October, 1988, photo. Uris, an immigrant's determined son who made it big with the million-selling ``Exodus'' and other greatly popular novels, died Saturday, June 21, 2003, his ex-wife Jill Uris said Tuesday, June 24, 2003. He was 78. Uris died Saturday of natural causes at his home on New York's Shelter Island, photographer Jill Uris said from her home in Aspen, Colo. (AP Photo)