Mario Puzo

<p>Mario Puzo (1920-1999) was an American Author and screenwriter best known for his Mafia crime novels. He joined the Air force during World War II and worked as a public relations officer. He published his first book, <i>The Dark Arena</i> in 1955 but it wasn't until his fifth novel, <i>The Godfather</i>, published in 1969 that he achieved his success. The book was later adapted into a movie by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. Puzo wrote the screenplay for all three Godfather movies, winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for <i>Godfather</i>. Puzo's last two novels <i>Omerta</i> and <i>The Family</i> were published posthumously.</p>