Clifford Mayes

Clifford Irving was an American author who gained notoriety for his elaborate hoax involving a supposed autobiography of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. Irving, who had previously written novels and a biography of art forger Elmyr de Hory, conceived the plan with Richard Suskind to create a fake autobiography, believing Hughes's seclusion would prevent its exposure. They forged letters and presented the manuscript to Irving's publisher, McGraw-Hill, which advanced a substantial sum, part of which was funneled through a Swiss bank account under a false name. The scheme unraveled when Hughes himself publicly denounced the project, leading to Irving's confession, indictment, and a prison sentence. He served 17 months of a two-and-a-half-year sentence and repaid the advance. Following his release, Irving continued to write, including his own account of the affair in 'The Hoax' and his prison journal. His life and the events surrounding the fake autobiography were later the subject of a film also titled 'The Hoax'.

Born in New York City to a father who was a Collier's cover artist and a syndicated comic strip creator, Clifford Irving grew up in a Jewish household. After graduating from the High School of Music & Art, he attended Cornell University, where he earned honors in English. His early career included a stint as a copy boy at The New York Times. Irving published his first novel, 'On a Darkling Plain,' in 1956, followed by 'The Losers' in 1958. His third novel, 'The Valley,' a Western saga, was released in 1960. During his time in Ibiza, he befriended Hungarian art forger Elmyr de Hory and wrote a biography about him titled 'Fake!' which was published in 1969. Both Irving and de Hory were later featured in Orson Welles's documentary film 'F for Fake,' inspired in part by Irving's biography and the subsequent Hughes autobiography affair.

In 1970, Clifford Irving collaborated with Richard Suskind to create a fraudulent autobiography of the famously reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. They believed Hughes's withdrawal from public life would prevent him from contesting the book. Irving's initial approach to his publisher, McGraw-Hill, suggested that Hughes himself had initiated contact after admiring Irving's work on Elmyr de Hory. The publisher, intrigued, entered into contracts, with Irving and associates forging Hughes's signature. McGraw-Hill paid a significant advance, with a large portion slated for Hughes, but the funds were diverted through a Swiss bank account managed by Irving's then-wife, Edith, under a fabricated name. The deception was announced in late 1971, but Hughes's eventual public denial in January 1972 exposed the elaborate fraud.

Following Howard Hughes's televised denial of any contact with Clifford Irving, the hoax was revealed. Irving, his wife Edith, and collaborator Richard Suskind confessed to conspiracy charges. Irving served 17 months of his two-and-a-half-year sentence and voluntarily returned the substantial advance paid by McGraw-Hill. Edith also faced prison time in both the US and Switzerland. After his release, Irving documented the entire affair in his 1981 book, 'The Hoax.' This account was later adapted into a 2006 film of the same name. He continued to write, publishing his prison journal and making several of his works available digitally in his later years.