Gore Vidal: Famous American Author Dies at 86

Famous author and screenwriter Gore Vidal died on Tuesday at his home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. He was 86. According to a statement by his nephew Burr Steers, Vidal was suffering from pneumonia.

Vidal who has been noted for his fierce versatility has written over 25 novels, tons of essays, Broadway plays and also many screenplays for Hollywood. In addition to life as behind-the-scene persona, Vidal was also very often on the other side of the screen, making numerous appearances on the Johnny Carson show, and other popular shows. He also offered his voice to animated versions of himself on the hit comedy shows "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."

The politically outspoken writer is often cited as the first American writer to "embrace unambiguous homosexuality," according to the New York Times.

Vidal's editor for over ten years, Gerald Howard, told USA Today, "the last surviving giant of a postwar crop of American literary giants...The world just became a duller place," he said of Vidal's death.

Vidal once said of himself, "I'm exactly as I appear. There is no warm, lovable person inside. Beneath my cold exterior, once you break the ice, you find cold water," as reported by the New York Times.

He was born in West Point New York in 1925. He served in the American Army during World War II. In addition to his 60-year-long career as a man of words, he dabbled in politics although rather unsuccessfully. He moved to Italy for some time, until 2003 when he returned back to America and settled in Los Angeles, where he lived till the end of his life.

Some of famous works include "The Best Man" (1960), "Pillars of the City" (1948), "Burr" (1973), "Creation" (1983), "Myra Brekinridge" (1968) to name a few.

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