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

Published first novel "Dark Arena", based on his World War II experiences in Europe

Second novel, "The Fortunate Pilgrim", appeared; considered by Puzo his finest work

Received $5K advance from Putnam for proposed Mafia novel

Came back from European vacation to find that the bidding for "The Godfather" paperback rights had reached $415,000

Feature film version of "The Godfather" released; would win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando) and Best Screenplay (for Puzo and director Francis Ford Coppola)

Shared a second Best Screenplay Oscar with Francis Ford Coppala for "The Godfather, Part II"

Collaborated with Robert Benton, David Newman and Leslie Newman to write "Superman"; same team would script "Superman II" (1980)

Paperback rights to "Fools Die" sold for then-astonishing $2.5 million

Received $1 million to write a screenplay for "The Cotton Club"

Entrusted Michael Cimino to direct his film adaptation of his novel "The Sicilian"; it bombed egregiously

Miniseries "Marion Puzo's the Fortunate Pilgrim", based on his 1964 novel, appeared on NBC

Co-wrote "The Godfather, Part III", considered the weakest of the three films

Nearly died of a heart attack in Las Vegas, NV; underwent quadruple-bypass surgery at Cedars-Sinai in L.A.

Received $1.3 million advance for yet another Mafia novel

Random House published comeback novel "The Last Don"

1964 novel "The Fortunate Pilgrim" re-released by Random House

CBS aired miniseries version of "The Last Don"; network paid $2.1 million, outbidding Coppola for rights