Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) was a French journalist and author best known for his novel The Phantom of the Opera. He was born in Paris and studied law before becoming a journalist. He wrote for several newspapers and magazines, and wrote several novels, including The Mystery of the Yellow Room and The Perfume of the Lady in Black. He was also a playwright, writing several plays, including The Marriage of the Phantom. He was a pioneer of the detective fiction genre, and his works are still widely read today. He died in 1927 in Nice, France.