Gore Vidal Dead at 86

Posted on August 1, 2012

Gore Vidal has died at the age of 86 after a bout with pneumonia, according to his nephew, Burr Steers. Steers said his uncle died last night in his home in the Hollywood Hills. The prolific author, playwright, actor and commentator also dabbled in politics and was as famous for his feuds as for his acerbic wit.

Vidal was one of the first authors to write about openly gay characters. His coming of age novel The City and the Pillar shocked critics at the time: it was 1948. Vidal also wrote Myra Breckinridge (which became a film starring Racquel Welch), the play The Best Man, and the historical novels Burr and Lincoln. He also worked on the screenplays of the films Ben-Hur and Suddenly Last Summer. He was a fixture on television shows, giving outspoken commentary and even appeared on The Simpsons.

The New York Times' obituary is here.