Walter Marks, born on January 15, 1934, in New York, is a distinguished American songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He is most renowned for his celebrated song "I've Gotta Be Me," which has been recorded by iconic artists such as Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, and Michael Jackson, among others. Marks has also contributed songs to the repertoires of Barbra Streisand, The Temptations, and Della Reese, to name a few.

In the realm of musical theatre, Marks wrote the songs for the Broadway productions "Bajour" and "Golden Rainbow" and crafted the book, music, and lyrics for the off-Broadway musical "Body Shop." His talents extended to film, where he penned the screenplay and songs for "The Wild Party," directed by James Ivory. Marks also wrote the off-Broadway comedy-mystery "The Butler Did It."

On television, Marks earned an Emmy award for his work on the PBS series "Getting On" and contributed songs to the ABC series "That’s Life" and the NBC Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "Pinocchio." His musical "Langston in Harlem" was staged in New York City in 2010 and won multiple Audelco/Vivian Robinson Awards for Excellence in Black Theater.

Marks' literary pursuits include his first novel, "Dangerous Behavior," published in 2002, with film rights acquired by Paramount Pictures. His second novel, "Death Hampton," was released in 2014, followed by its sequel "The Battle of Jericho." Additionally, he produced and scored a documentary on Larry Flynt, directed by his wife, Joan Brooker-Marks.

Walter Marks resides in Manhattan and East Hampton, continuing to influence both the musical and literary worlds with his diverse talents.