Mario Levi was born in 1957 in Istanbul. He graduated from Saint Michel High School in 1975, from Istanbul University the Faculty of Literature French Language and Literature Department in 1980. His first articles were published in the newspaper "Şalom". These were followed by his other articles in the publication organs like "Cumhuriyet", "Stüdyo İmge", "Milliyet Sanat", "Gösteri", "Argos", "Gergedan", "Varlık".

His first published book is called "Jacques Brel: A Lonely Man" (1986). This book is a novelized version of his university graduation thesis. His first story book “Not Being Able to Go to a City" was published in 1990. This book having autobiographic qualities is like an account of the writer with both his loves, his childhood and pre-teen years. The book won the Haldun Taner Story Prize of the year. His second story book, "Madame Floridis May not Return" published in 1991, includes the people of Istanbul who have difficulty in adapting to the minority group and the society. In 1992, his first novel called “Our Best Love Story" was published. Then a long silence took place. His 800-page novel, "Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale", published in 1999, is the story of a Jewish family who lived in Istanbul between the 1920s and 1980s. The heroes of other minorities of the city are also seen in this novel.

Mario Levi, in addition to being a writer, was also a French teacher, an importer, a journalist, a radio programmer and a copywriter. He gave lectures at Yeditepe University. He also taught creative writing to the people who have set their hearts on trying to express their thoughts.