Author. He was recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1990 for his novel "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love" (1989). He became the first Latino to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Born Oscar Jerome Hijuelos to Cuban immigrants, his father a cook along with Oscar's mother moved to the United States during the 1940s. At the age of three, Oscar developed a kidney ailment which required his hospitalization for a year and it would be during this time, when he learned the English language. He attained his Masters in Fine Arts from the City College of New York and upon graduation, he penned his first novel "Our House in the Last World" (1983). In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize, his bestseller "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love" was made into a 1992 motion picture titled "The Mambo Kings" which starred Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. The story depicted two brothers during the 1950s who leave Havana for New York to start an orchestra. Among his other works include "Empress of the Splendid Season" and "Dark Dude" (2008). He suffered a fatal heart attack while playing tennis.
Author. He was recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1990 for his novel "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love" (1989). He became the first Latino to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Born Oscar Jerome Hijuelos to Cuban immigrants, his father a cook along with Oscar's mother moved to the United States during the 1940s. At the age of three, Oscar developed a kidney ailment which required his hospitalization for a year and it would be during this time, when he learned the English language. He attained his Masters in Fine Arts from the City College of New York and upon graduation, he penned his first novel "Our House in the Last World" (1983). In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize, his bestseller "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love" was made into a 1992 motion picture titled "The Mambo Kings" which starred Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. The story depicted two brothers during the 1950s who leave Havana for New York to start an orchestra. Among his other works include "Empress of the Splendid Season" and "Dark Dude" (2008). He suffered a fatal heart attack while playing tennis.
Bio by: C.S.
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