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Marilyn Monroe, RFK, John Belushi: the LA coroner who became 'coroner to the stars'
Anne Soon Choi's new book details the rise and fall of Thomas Noguchi who rose to fame as the "coroner to the stars."
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New book ‘LA Coroner’ explores the man behind our fascination with celebrity death
In 1968, Thomas Noguchi, a Los Angeles coroner, forever changed the way Americans think about celebrity death when he proved that Democratic Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy had been assassinated by three shots to his back — not the front like eyewitnesses had reported. While not his first high profile autopsy, his analysis of Robert F. Kennedy’s death was widely publicized and propelled Noguchi into the public eye, where he became known as the ‘coroner to the stars.’ In her new book, ‘L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood,’ author and historian Anne Soon Choi explores how one man’s meticulous desire to know the full story has informed our modern understanding of celebrity death. Joining us this morning to talk about her book is Anne Soon Choi, professor of Asian American Studies and university administrator at California State University, Northridge. We also want to hear from you! Do you have a question about Dr. Noguchi? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
What do Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy and John Belushi have in common? They all had autopsies done by Thomas Noguchi, who in his 15 years as L.A.’s chief coroner, became known as the “coroner to the stars.”
Anne Soon Choi, professor of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge, authored the book L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood about Noguchi’s life and career. She joined AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news program, to discuss Noguchi’s legacy.
Finding Marilyn
Noguchi quickly realized the political power the chief coroner possessed when it came to celebrity cases.
When Monroe was found dead in her home after a tumultuous personal and professional period, Noguchi’s mentor, Theodore Curphey, launched a first-of-its-kind psychological investigation to try and learn more about death by suicide.
Curphey began interviewing Monroe’s friends and family members, but he apparently didn’t interview all the people who were in contact with Monroe at the time of her death, launching multiple conspiracy theories.
Having done the actual autopsy, Noguchi was caught in the crossfire of pressure between the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the public to release the actual cause of death in Monroe’s case. But all the evidence — such as internal organs — was destroyed after Curphey’s ruling, leaving Noguchi in a bad spot.
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It's about how you manage the press, how you present yourself in the media.
— Anne Soon Choi, author of L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood
“He wakes up with this recurrent nightmare that someone's gonna accuse him of killing Marilyn Monroe,” Choi said. “It's something that hangs over his career all the way to the present.”
Monroe’s case taught Noguchi something crucial about being a medical examiner that goes far beyond science and forensics.
“It's about how you manage the press, how you present yourself in the media,” Choi said.
Chasing fame
The assassination and “botched autopsy” of John F. Kennedy spurred numerous conspiracies, according to Choi. So when Robert F. Kennedy was killed, several forensic pathologists told Noguchi to “keep control of the body” at all costs.
Although the Kennedy family didn’t request an autopsy, Noguchi convinced them to let him do one. He conducted it in a hospital under heavy scrutiny in what came to be known as “the perfect autopsy,” Choi added.
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This launched Noguchi into national fame. He’d insert himself into the narrative, unafraid to omit certain autopsy details and highlight others depending on if he was in court, at trial or speaking to the public.
“I routinely refer to him as the original influencer,” Choi said. “He knew how to nail a media soundbite in a way that I don't think anyone has since.”
The godfather of true crime
In 1982, Noguchi was charged with mismanagement of the coroner’s office. He had become too entangled in the “dangerous game” of celebrity and his goal to maintain the independence of the coroner’s office was shrouded by his public persona and involvement in media games and politics, Choi said.
But today, his legacy reverberates throughout popular culture.
“You don’t have the CSI franchise without Thomas Noguchi,” she said. “He was the godfather of true crime. You don’t have true crime without Thomas Noguchi.”
Listen to the full conversation
Listen
19:30
New book ‘LA Coroner’ explores the man behind our fascination with celebrity death
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