Nicholas Pileggi is an American author and screenwriter, born on February 22, 1933. He is best known for his 1985 non-fiction book Wiseguy, which he adapted into the screenplay for the film Goodfellas. This adaptation earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition to Wiseguy, he wrote the book and screenplay for Casino, both co-written and directed by Martin Scorsese. Pileggi also penned the screenplay for the 1996 film City Hall.

He began his career as a journalist, nurturing a profound interest in the Mafia. This interest served as a foundation for his acclaimed works such as Wiseguy and Casino. Beyond these, he authored the book Blye: Private Eye. Furthermore, Pileggi was the executive producer for the film American Gangster, directed by Ridley Scott.