Mario Puzo was born in 1920 in New York and, following military service in World War II, attended New York's New School for Social Research and Columbia University. His best-known novel, The Godfather (1969) was preceded by two criticially acclaimed novels, The Dark Arena (1955)and The Fortunate Pilgrim (1965). In 1978, he published Fools Die, followed by The Sicilian (1984), The Fourth K (1991), and The Last Don (1996). Mario Puzo also wrote many screenplays, including Earthquake, Superman, and all three Godfather movies, for which he received two Academy Awards. He died at his home on Long Island, surrounded by his family, in July 1999.