Writer Winston Groom, who is known for penning the novel Forrest Gump, which was made into the Oscar Award winning film, has passed away at 77. The author, who is celebrated for his work in fiction and non-fiction, breathed his last breath on September 16. The author who was born on March 23, 1943 has authored sixteen books.

Tom Hanks played the role of the titular character in the 1994 film adaptation of the book. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis with a screenplay by Eric Roth.

Winston Groom wrote a sequel to Forrest Gump, titled Gump And Co. He also co-wrote the Pulitzer Prize nominated Conversations with the Enemy, which records the fourteen-year captive period US Marine PFC Robert Garwood spent in Vietnam.