Robert Marasco was a playwright and novelist best known for his chilling contributions to horror and suspense literature. His debut play, "Child’s Play," a haunting exploration of malevolence at a Catholic boys' school, premiered on Broadway in 1970 and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Play. The success of the play led to a 1972 film adaptation. Marasco further solidified his reputation with his debut novel, "Burnt Offerings," a psychological horror story that became a bestseller and was adapted into a 1976 film starring Oliver Reed, Karen Black, and Bette Davis.
Born in the Bronx in 1936, Marasco was educated at Regis High School in Manhattan and Fordham University. Before pursuing writing full-time, he taught at Regis, drawing on his background as a classical scholar to inform his work. His second novel, "Parlor Games," published in 1979, continued his exploration of unsettling themes. Marasco's writing often blended psychological tension with supernatural elements, leaving a lasting impact on the horror genre. He passed away in 1998 due to lung cancer.