Washington, Sep 18 (UNI) Winston Groom, the author of the novel 'Forrest Gump', which was produced into the cult classic Hollywood movie has died at age 77 in US state of Alabama.
The film adaptation of novel which was released in 1994 proved to be a blockbuster and won multiple academy awards including Best Picture and grossed more than USD 1 billion worldwide.
Paying his tributes to the departed author Alabama Governor Kay Ivey wrote on Twitter "Saddened to learn that Alabama has lost one of our most gifted writers. While he will be remembered for creating Forrest Gump, Winston Groom was a talented journalist & noted author of American history. Our hearts & prayers are extended to his family,"
Mayor of Fairhope, Alabama Karin Wilson wrote on Facebook that the south Alabama town has "lost an iconic author,".
Groom was born in Washington D.C. in 1943, but raised in Mobile, Alabama, he graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965, and later served in the US Army from 1965 to 1967, including service in Vietnam.
Forrest Gump, which was his most well known book was published in 1986.
The film adaptation was directed by Robert Zemeckis, it won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Tom Hanks.
Forrest Gump portrays the journey of a not a very bright but kind-hearted Alabamian man through the second half of the 20th century in the US. The protagonist ends up witnessing some of the defining events of the era such as racial segregation, Vietnam War, etc. Forrest Gump was the second top-grossing film in 1994 after 'The Lion King'.
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