‘Forrest Gump’ Author Winston Groom Dies at Age 77

Winston Groom — writer of “Forrest Gump,” the guide that impressed the Academy Award-winning movie of the identical identify — died on Thursday. He was 77.

Mayor Karin Wilson of Fairhope, Alabama, the place Groom lived, shared the information of his passing in a Facebook submit.

“It is with great sadness that I share the passing of our dear friend Winston Groom,” Wilson wrote. “The City of Fairhope has lost an iconic author today. Please keep his friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.”

First written by Groom in 1986, “Forrest Gump” would go on to develop into his best-selling novel, with 1.7 million copies bought. The novel was tailored right into a blockbuster movie in 1994, starring Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise and Robin Wright. “Forrest Gump” would go on to win six Academy Awards in 1995, together with a Best Actor statuette for star Tom Hanks, and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis.

Winston Groom later printed a sequel in 1995 titled. “Gump and Co.”

Born Mar. 23, 1944 in Washington, D.C., Groom was raised in Mobile County, Alabama. He turned to novel writing in faculty and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965 with a level in English earlier than serving 4 years within the United States Army, together with a tour in Vietnam.

After Groom returned stateside, he turned a reporter for the Washington Star earlier than specializing in writing novels full time. Groom moved to New York City the place he completed his first novel set within the Vietnam War, “Better Times Than These,” which was printed in 1978.

A University of Alabama alumnus, Winston Groom additionally complied and wrote the 2000 University of Alabama Press guide, “The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama,” and an up to date 2010 second model, “The Crimson Tide: The Official Illustrated History of Alabama Football, National Championship Edition.”

Groom is survived by his spouse, Susan.