Mario Puzo

Mario Puzo was an American writer and screenwriter. After serving in World War II, he studied at the New School for Social Research and Columbia University. He began publishing novels in the 1950s, exploring Italian-American life and social identity. Puzo also worked in film, collaborating with Francis Ford Coppola on screenplays that earned Academy Awards. His writing often focused on organized crime and its societal impact. Puzo continued developing novels and screenplays until his death, with his final work completed posthumously by his partner and research collaborator, Carol Gino. He died on July 2, 1999, at age 78.