Marilyn Monroe, RFK, John Belushi: the LA coroner who became 'coroner to the stars'

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.

“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.

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