Born: 1930

Formerly a minor author—who had trouble sticking to the truth—Clifford Irving convinced his publisher to hire him to write The Autobiography of Howard Hughes. The trouble was, Howard Hughes had no involvement in his supposed memoirs. Irving faked the life story of the reclusive billionaire—and almost got away with it.

Early life

Born in New York City in 1930, Irving grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His father, Jay Irving, was a cartoonist who drew a comic strip called “Pottsy,” a friendly, overweight policeman. Irving did not get along well with his father, who pressured his son to be successful. As a boy, Irving lived in his parents’ New York apartment and attended public schools in Manhattan. His boyhood friends included William Safire, who later became a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon (1969–1974) and...