Terry Anderson, a US journalist kidnapped in Lebanon and kept as a hostage for years, passes away

Terry Anderson, the world-traveling Associated Press journalist who was kidnapped off a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and kept captive for over seven years, became one of America’s longest-held captives. Anderson has passed away at the age of 76.

Anderson, whose best-selling 1993 book “Den of Lions” detailed his kidnapping and grueling captivity by Islamic terrorists, passed away on Sunday at his Greenwood Lake, New York, home, according to his daughter Sulome Anderson. Per his daughter, Anderson passed away due to complications after recent heart surgery.

“During his years as a hostage, Terry showed incredible bravery and resolve in his journalism, and he had a strong commitment to reporting from the ground up.” As a consequence of his job, he and his family made many sacrifices, for which we are very grateful,” said Julie Pace, senior vice president and executive editor of the AP.

Sulome Anderson said, “He never liked to be called a hero, but everyone insisted on calling him that.” When I met him a week ago, my partner asked him if he had any goals or anything he wanted to do. “I’ve lived so much and I’ve done so much,” he said. I’m happy.

After his return, what kind of life did Terry Anderson lead?
Following his return to the United States in 1991, Anderson maintained a nomadic existence, lecturing publicly, teaching journalism at a number of prestigious colleges, and running a gourmet restaurant, horse ranch, blues bar, and Cajun restaurant at different points in his life.

Along with dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, he also lost most of the millions of dollars he recovered from blocked Iranian assets when a US court found that Iran had a hand in his kidnapping. In 2009, he declared bankruptcy.

After retiring from the University of Florida in 2015, Anderson made his home on a tiny horse farm he had found while out camping with friends in a peaceful, rural area of northern Virginia.

He laughed as he stated, “I live in the country and it’s quiet out here and a nice place, so I’m doing all right.” This was in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press.