IRA Levin was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for his novels Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives, and A Kiss Before Dying, all of which have been adapted into films. He also wrote the Broadway play Deathtrap, which was later adapted into a film. Levin was born in New York City and attended New York University. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and wrote several plays before becoming a full-time writer. His works often explore themes of paranoia and the supernatural.