Neil Richard Gaiman (pronounced /ˈɡeɪmən/) (born 10 November 1960) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. His notable works include The Sandman comic series, Stardust, American Gods and Coraline. Gaiman's writing has won numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, as well as the 2009 Newbery Medal. The extreme enthusiasm of his fans has led some to call him a "rock star" of the literary world.

He lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, in an "Addams Family house". He has three children: Michael, Holly, and Madeleine and is divorced from his former wife, Mary McGrath.

Gaiman's family is of Polish Jewish origins; his great-grandfather emigrated from Antwerp before 1914 and his grandfather eventually settled in the Hampshire city of Portsmouth and established a chain of grocery stores. His father, David Bernard Gaiman, worked in the same chain of stores; his mother, Sheila Gaiman (née Goldman), was a pharmacist. He has two younger sisters. After living for a period in the nearby town of Portchester, where Neil was born in 1960, the family settled in 1965 in the West Sussex town of East Grinstead. Gaiman lived there for many years, from 1965-1980 and again from 1984-1987. Gaiman was educated at several Church of England schools, including Fonthill School (East Grinstead), Ardingly College (1970-74), and Whitgift School (Croydon) (1974-77).