Mario Puzo, author of ‘The Godfather,’ dies

Friday, July 2, 1999 | 1:40 a.m.

Puzo died, apparently of heart failure, at his home in Bay Shore on Long Island, said Neil Olson, his literary agent. Puzo had just finished work on his latest book, "Omerta." The book is due out in July 2000.

Puzo, who wrote seven other novels in addition to "The Godfather," was born in New York, the son of illiterate Italian immigrants. After serving in World War II, he began his writing career - starting out doing pulp stories for men's magazines.

But his literary ambitions were much higher, and he published his first novel, "The Dark Arena," in 1955.

Puzo's next book was an autobiographical piece about the Italian immigrant experience. "The Fortunate Pilgrim," was hailed by The New York Times as "a small classic." But it sold fewer than 5,000 copies and Puzo, seeking the fame and fortune he felt he deserved as a writer, set out to write a best seller.

He succeeded. "The Godfather," which came out in 1969, covered a different immigrant experience: It focused on the Corleone family, Italians who came to the United States and plunged into the world of organized crime.

The book sold more than 21 million copies worldwide, and spawned movies that became American cinematic classics. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro brought Puzo's characters to the screen; Puzo co-wrote the screenplays with director Francis Ford Coppola.

"The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather Part II" (1974) both won best-picture Oscars as well as the Oscars for best script. Brando was awarded best actor Oscar for Part I and De Niro got best suporting actor for Part II. Part III (1990) was less successful but did pick up some Oscar nominations, including best picture.

"His talent was obvious," said James Caan, who portrayed the ill-fated Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather."

"I had the good fortune of knowing him and working with him on 'The Godfather' and the misfortune of not knowing him better. He was a real nice man who will be deeply missed."

After the success of "The Godfather," Puzo was often asked if he had ties to organized crime - and his answer was always no.

"It might have been preferable to be in the Mafia," he said in 1996. "I'm glad I'm a writer, but it's hard work. Nobody likes to work hard."

He co-wrote several other screenplays, including two Superman movies, as well as "The Cotton Club" and "Christopher Columbus."

In 1984, he brought out another best-seller, "The Sicilian."

Puzo's other books included "Fool's Diet," a 1978 effort on casinos; 1992's "The Fourth K," a futuristic political thriller; and "The Last Don" in 1996, a return to his favorite topic, the Mafia.

"The Last Don" became another runaway best seller and was the basis for a highly rated television miniseries.

In an 1996 Associated Press interview, he acknowledged his portrayals, with their emphasis on honor and family, made the Mafia a more romantic place than the thuggery or buffoonery of the real thing.

"They're not my Mafia," he said of the real-life mobsters. "My Mafia is a very romanticized myth."

He insisted that his research was done in libraries, not amid gangsters.

"Where would I have time to be in the Mafia?" he asked. "I starved before the success of 'The Godfather.' If I was in the Mafia I would have made enough money so I wouldn't have to write."

And anyway, he asked, "Just because a guy's a murderer, he can't have endearing traits?"

Puzo spent the last three years working on "Omerta," a book about a mob family on the brink of legitimacy. "Omerta" is the mob code of silence.

"It's vintage Puzo," said his editor, Jonathan Karp. "He was a virtuoso storyteller right up to the end."

When not writing, Puzo lived what he liked to call the "bourgeois life," splitting time between his homes in Los Angeles and Long Island. He loved tennis, sports and gambling; Puzo loved to visit Las Vegas.

Puzo is survived by his children, Anthony, Dorothy, Eugene, Virginia and Joseph; a sister, Evelyn Murphy, a brother, Anthony Cleri; his companion of 20 years, Carol Gino; and nine grandchildren.

His wife, Erika, died in 1978.

A private family service is planned for Monday, Olson said.