How Did Truman Capote Die? The Details Behind His Death

The story of Truman Capote ends with Feud: Capote vs Swans finals.

The Ryan Murphy series, which premiered on January 31, follows the rise and fall of a famous writer (played by Tom Hollander) after he writes an exposé about his famous friends, which he calls Swans.

Although his novel Answered prayers was “fictionalized”, it included many striking secrets about his friends, including infidelity and accusations of murder.

After an irrevocable falling out with friends, Capote’s health deteriorated as he struggled with addiction and was in and out of rehab clinics in the 1970s.

As shown in the series, Capote died in 1984, approximately nine years after the excerpts from Answered prayers are published. The rest of the novel under the title Answered Prayers: An Unfinished Novelit was published in 1986 in the UK after his death and in 1987 in the US

Here’s everything you need to know about Capote’s death.

How did Truman Capote die?

Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty

Capote’s increased drug and alcohol use eventually led to his death in 1984, with his official death certificate citing “liver disease complicated by phlebitis and multiple drug poisoning” as the cause, per The New York Times.

Coroner’s officials clarified to the publication that his death was not the result of a drug overdose, although he had several drugs in his system.

“He essentially died of natural causes,” coroner’s spokesman Bill Gold said The New York Times. “Toxicology findings in the case showed that Mr. Capote only consumed prescribed medications for sleep, anxiety, leg pain and epileptic seizures.”

“No alcohol was detected,” Gold added. “The drug levels, while contributing, were not lethal and indicated regular use consistent with his past medical history. If he didn’t have health problems, medication wouldn’t be an additional problem.”

Toxicology tests found barbiturates, Valium, anti-seizure drugs and painkillers in his system. They were all “prescribed drugs for the novelist,” according to the publication.

When did Truman Capote die?

Capote died on August 25, 1984.

Where did Truman Capote die?

Getty

He died in Bel Air, Los Angeles at the home of Joanna Carson, Johnny Carson’s ex-wife. The two became close friends after Joanna’s divorce from Johnny in 1972 and Capote began staying at her house as a guest a few days before his death.

How old was Truman Capote when he died?

Capote was 59 when he died. His death occurred about a month before his 60th birthday on September 30.

What were Truman Capote’s last words?

Jack Mitchell/Getty

In episode 7 of Feud: Capote vs SwansCapote hallucinates seeing Babe Paley, who died of lung cancer on July 6, 1978, before speaking his last words, “Beautiful baby.”

In reality, however, it is not clear what Capote’s last words were. According to Joanne, in his final moments, Capote spoke of his mother before uttering “Beautiful baby” and “Prayers answered,” she reports vanity fair. She then called the paramedics for help, but by the time they arrived, Truman was dead.

Where is Truman Capote buried?

Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

After his death, Capote was cremated and his remains were divided between Joanne and Jack Dunphy, with Joanne keeping his urn in the room where he died.

In 1988, Capote’s ashes were stolen during a Halloween party at Joanna’s house, though they were soon returned.

After the incident at the Halloween party, Joanne purchased a crypt at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. Writer Laurence Leamer previously recalled to PEOPLE that Joanne placed some of his ashes in the crypt (mixed with some of her dog’s ashes), where they now lie alongside Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood and others.

Joanne later died in 2015 at the age of 83, and the following year the rest of Capote’s ashes were sold for $43,750 to an anonymous bidder, Julien’s Auctions.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education