William Lindsay Gresham

Biography: William Lindsay Gresham was an American novelist, most noted for his novel Nightmare Alley, which was later adapted into a film.

Gresham moved to New York as a child were he grew up and worked as a folk singer. In 1942 Gresham married Joy Davidman and had two children. He was described as an alcoholic and abusive father.

In 1962 was diagnosed with cancer and began to go blind. On September 14th he checked into the Dixie Hotel and took an overdose of sleeping pills.