William Goldman

William Goldman is a highly respected novelist, playwright, and screenwriter in the American literary scene. Born into a Jewish family in Highland Park, Illinois, he went on to obtain a BA degree from Oberlin College in 1952 and an MA degree from Columbia University in 1956. Goldman's professional career took off with the publication of his first novel, "The Temple of Gold," in 1957. Before turning to screenwriting, he had already established himself as a successful author and playwright, with five novels and three Broadway plays to his name.

Goldman's work in Hollywood is particularly noteworthy. He began writing screenplays in the 1960s, and his work quickly gained recognition for its originality and quality. In the 1980s, he wrote a series of memoirs reflecting on his experiences in the entertainment industry, including the famous quote, "Nobody knows anything." Despite his success in screenwriting, Goldman never abandoned his love for novels and returned to writing them later in his career. He adapted his novel "The Princess Bride" for the screen, which marked his re-entry into screenwriting. Goldman's contributions to the film industry have been recognized with two Academy Awards for Writing Original Screenplay for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and Writing Adapted Screenplay for "All the President's Men." He also won two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay for "Harper" and "Magic," which was adapted from his own 1976 novel.

Throughout his long and extensive career, William Goldman has become an institution in the American literary and film industries. His work has been an inspiration to many, and his contributions have left a lasting impact on both Broadway and Hollywood. Despite passing away in New York City on November 16, 2018, due to complications from colon cancer and pneumonia, Goldman's legacy continues to live on through his impressive body of work.