Hollywood Memorial

Truman Capote remembered for his novella ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and for his nonfiction novel ‘In Cold Blood,’ both stories were later made into movies of the same name. The author’s photo which Capote used for the back of his first book caused a public uproar, in that he posed in a suggestive manner; the controversy brought Capote much media attention, and made him a ‘darling’ of New York society. Flamboyant and outspoken, Capote was openly gay at a time when most gay men were silent and unobtrusive; in 1948, he began a non-exclusive relationship with fellow author Jack Dunphy who would become his lifelong companion. After reading about the 1959 Clutter family murders in the ‘New York Times,’ Capote became fascinated with the story and traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, to investigate the killings. In his later years, Capote became reclusive, in part from rejection from his wealthy, famous, upper crust friends who he had managed to alienate over the years, and partly due to his alcoholism and drug addiction. He was often hospitalized in his final years for drug abuse. He died in 1984 at age 59 from an overdose of pills, According to the coroner’s report the cause of death was ‘liver disease complicated by phlebitis and multiple drug intoxication.’ in the Los Angeles home of Joanne Carson, the ex-wife of TV host Johnny Carson. He was cremated and buried in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, leaving behind his long-term companion, Jack Dunphy. When Dunphy died in 1992, some of their ashes were mixed together and scattered at Crooked Pond, Long Island, New York, where they had maintained property together. Another portion of his cremated remains were given to his friend, Joanne Carson. That’s him all over, with the remaining ashes in a crypt at Westwood Memorial Park. He was the inspiration for the character ‘Dill,’ in Lee’s 1960 bestseller ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Phillip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Capote in movie biography of his life.