Romain Gary, born Roman Kacew, was a renowned French novelist, diplomat, film director, and World War II aviator. Born in Vilna, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania), he grew up in a Jewish family and later moved with his mother to Nice, France, after his father abandoned them in 1925.

Gary studied law in Aix-en-Provence and Paris before serving as a pilot in the French Air Force during World War II. Following the Nazi occupation of France, he fled to England, adopted the name Romain Gary, and served with the Free French Forces across Europe and North Africa, earning multiple honors for his bravery, including the Compagnon de la Libération and the Légion d'Honneur.

After the war, Gary joined the French diplomatic service, including roles as secretary of the French Delegation to the United Nations and Consul General of France in Los Angeles. His first novel, "Education européenne" (A European Education), was published in 1945. Throughout his career, Gary wrote over 30 novels, including works under pseudonyms such as Émile Ajar, Shatan Bogat, Rene Deville, and Fosco Sinibaldi.

Gary was married twice, first to author and journalist Lesley Blanch, and later to American actress Jean Seberg. He directed two films, "Les oiseaux vont mourir au Pérou" in 1968 and "Kill!" in 1971, starring Seberg. Tragically, Jean Seberg committed suicide in 1979, and Gary followed in 1980.

Romain Gary remains the only author to have won the prestigious Prix Goncourt twice, once under a pseudonym, marking his influence on French literature in the latter half of the 20th century.