George R.R. Martin was born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.

✦ He is obsessed with comic books.

✦ A fan letter got his professional writing career started.

✦ He owns an independent movie theater.

✦ He’s a skilled chess player.