Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Death Date: 07/02/1999
biography
Angered that his first two critically-acclaimed novels had failed commercially, Mario Puzo managed to get a $5K advance from G.P. Putnam's Sons for his proposed Mafia novel and set his sights on nothing short of a best-seller, writing "The Godfather" in a rage to be accepted. Though he was nearly 50 at the time of its publication, Puzo put poverty behind him forever, subsequently pulling down tons of money as an Oscar-winning screenwriter and novelist (the paperback rights to "Fools Die" sold for an astonishing $2.5 million in 1978).Along with director Francis Ford Coppola, Puzo crafted the
Raised in Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City; one of seven children
Worked as a switchboard attendant for NY Central Railroad
Served in Army during World War II; assigned to the military government of captured French towns; though never firing a shot, earned five battlefield stars for coming under fire
Worked as a government clerk
Wrote fiction and non-fiction for magazines like TRUE ACTION and MALE
