The Story Of Hunter S. Thompson’s Suicide
Frank Mullen/Getty ImagesKnown for his wild antics, Hunter S. Thompson once showed up to Jack Nicholson’s house in the middle of the night with a spotlight, a pistol, a tape of a pig being eaten by bears, and an elk heart. The elk heart was left at Nicholson’s door.
Hunter S. Thompson was a one-of-a-kind journalist who fueled his career with non-stop adrenaline, drugs, and audacious behavior.
Born on July 18, 1937, Thompson started out as a sports reporter but quickly gained a loyal following after he spent time with notorious motorcycle gang Hells Angels. He wrote his experiences down and the book became an instant hit.
One of his most notable contributions to the world of writing was his creation of “gonzo journalism.” This style of journalism inserts the writer into the story through personal experience and first-person accounts.
Drugs and other substances were often at the forefront of Thompson’s works. It’s believed that his decades of drug and alcohol-fueled adventures eventually wore him down. By the early 2000s, the best years of his career were behind him and he became depressed, upset about aging, and faced many health problems.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesHunter S. Thompson aims his Magnum on his ranch near Aspen, Colorado, circa 1976.
On February 20, 2005, while his son and daughter-in-law were visiting him, Thompson decided to end his life.
He called his wife from his Owl Creek, Colorado compound and asked her if she would come home to help him write his weekly column for ESPN. As she began to hang up on him, she heard what she thought was a typewriter click.
The sound was actually coming from the gun that Thompson was cocking. Thompson then killed himself while his son was in the next room.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or use their 24/7 Lifeline Crisis Chat.
