Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author, screenwriter, and journalist, best known for his crime novels about the Mafia. He was born in Hell's Kitchen, New York, to a family of Neapolitan immigrants. Many of his books draw heavily on this heritage and his experiences growing up in a poor Italian-American community.
After serving in World War II as a public relations officer, Puzo began his writing career. His first short story, The Last Christmas, was published in American Vanguard in 1950. He went on to write his first book, The Dark Arena, in 1955. At different periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer and editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company.
Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969. The novel became a massive success, propelling Puzo to fame and cementing his place as one of the most prominent crime fiction authors. The Godfather was later developed into a film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received critical acclaim and commercial success, winning several Academy Awards, including for Puzo's adapted screenplay.
Puzo's success with The Godfather led to a series of sequels, as well as other film and television projects. He co-wrote the screenplays for Superman and Superman II and collaborated on the stories for several other films. Puzo's work has had a lasting impact on popular culture, and his novels and films continue to be widely read and watched today.
Mario Puzo passed away on July 2, 1999, at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His legacy as a writer and filmmaker remains significant, and his work continues to inspire and entertain readers and viewers around the world.