He didn't. He is still alive as of both the question and this answer.
James Joseph Patterson died in 1992.
James T. Patterson died in 1989.
James John Patterson died in 1937.
James O'H. Patterson died in 1911.
James Colebrooke Patterson died on 1929-02-17.
James Patterson - actor - died on 1972-08-19.
James W. Patterson died on 1893-05-04.
James Kennedy Patterson died on 1922-08-15.
James Patterson Lyke died on 1992-12-27.
Not yet he's not.
no! never.
James Patterson is white.