William Goldman

William Goldman (August 12, 1931 – November 16, 2018) was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He gained prominence in the 1950s as a novelist before transitioning to screenwriting. Goldman won two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Screenplay for 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1969), and another for Best Adapted Screenplay for 'All the President's Men' (1976). He is also known for his thriller novel 'Marathon Man' (1974) and the cult classic comedy/fantasy novel 'The Princess Bride' (1973), both of which he adapted for film. Born in Chicago in 1931, Goldman grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. His father's battle with alcoholism affected their family's financial stability.