Jerzy Kosinski
Jerzy Kosiński (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjɛʐɨ kɔˈɕiɲskʲi]; June 14, 1933 – May 3, 1991), born Józef Lewinkopf, was an award-winning Polish-American novelist and two-time President of the American Chapter of P.E.N., who wrote primarily in English. Born in Poland, he survived World War II and as a young man emigrated to America, where he became a citizen. He was known for various novels, among them The Painted Bird (1965) and Being There (1971). Being There was adapted as an Academy Award-winning film in 1979.