Ira Marvin Levin was an American novelist, playwright, and songwriter. He was born on August 27, 1929, in New York City and passed away on November 12, 2007. Levin's notable works include the novels A Kiss Before Dying (1953), Rosemary's Baby (1967), The Stepford Wives (1972), This Perfect Day (1970), The Boys from Brazil (1976), and Sliver (1991). He also wrote the play Deathtrap (1978).

Many of Levin's novels and plays have been adapted into films. His novel A Kiss Before Dying was particularly successful and earned him the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The story was adapted into a movie twice, first in 1956.

Levin graduated from the Horace Mann School and New York University, where he majored in philosophy and English. After college, he wrote training films and scripts for television. His first produced play was No Time for Sergeants, a comedy about a hillbilly drafted into the United States Air Force, which launched Andy Griffith's career. This play was turned into a movie in 1958 and co-starred Don Knotts.

Throughout his career, Levin received several awards, including the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award and several Edgar Awards.