Harry Mathews was born on 14 February 1930 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Marie Chaix and Niki De Saint Phalle. He died on 25 January 2017 in Key West, Florida, USA.
His father Edward was an important New York architect . Harry was one of the American members of the French literary group l'Oulipo and was a friend of its founder Georges Perec.