Hunter S. Thompson dead by suicide at DVinfo.net

Keith Loh · February 20th, 2005, 11:01 PM

Writer Hunter S. Thompson dead at 67
Son says counterculture writer shot himself
Hunter S. Thompson, the acerbic counterculture writer who popularized a new form of fictional journalism in books like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” fatally shot himself Sunday night at his home, his son said. He was 67.

Eric Gorski · February 21st, 2005, 12:18 AM

bummer. :(

John Sandel · February 21st, 2005, 01:04 AM

Angry waters run deep, too, I guess. Guy was full of rage, and often right about this country. I was always proud that Nixon was scared of what Thompson represented.

Marco Leavitt · February 21st, 2005, 08:35 AM

Sad times, although I can't say it's the most surprising news. I wonder if he left a note?

Richard Alvarez · February 21st, 2005, 08:52 AM

Wonder if Trudeau will reference this, since "Uncle Duke" is pretty much patterned off him.

"Fear and Loathing" one of my favorites.

K. Forman · February 21st, 2005, 09:43 AM

Are we sure it was a suicide? He made a lot of people angry.

Keith Loh · February 21st, 2005, 10:32 AM

He was suffering from some medical condition I don't remember. He wrote about being in pain all the time.

Christopher C. Murphy · February 21st, 2005, 10:57 AM

Well, this certainly makes it possible to do another remake of "Fear and Loathing" someday. In 5 years we'll see the new hot star (like J. Depp was) do a new version....and the ending will much more Hunter like. He planned this I'm sure....he knew what he was doing. Gun shot? He could have O.D'ed and would have been less cinematic. Heck, I admire someone that goes out with a laugh...I'm sure he did.

Although, if his wife came home and didn't know...that actually sucks and he's a loser for doing that to her. I'm not sure about the circumstances, so I guess I shouldn't assume.

Bottom line - "Fear and Loathing" is a GREAT film. Kudos Hunter!

Charles Papert · February 21st, 2005, 11:12 AM

I don't have my dogeared copy of "Fear and Loathing" with me at the moment, but I seem to remember a passage in there where Hunter described how he'd want to take himself out, something about driving a convertible off a cliff...perhaps someone can quote it.

I heard him speak a few times when he was touring colleges in the 80's. Sometimes he was more coherent than others, but always a fun presence and I've enjoyed his writing a lot over the years. I'm sorry to see him go.

Scott Anderson · February 21st, 2005, 11:22 AM

"Old elephants limp off to the hills to die; old Americans go out to the highway and drive themselves to death with huge cars." -- HST

John Sandel · February 21st, 2005, 11:31 AM

Faint shades of Hemingway, who also left a corpse for his wife to find.

Imran Zaidi · February 21st, 2005, 11:31 AM

Looks like The Rum Diary is in production currently, and with quite a cast...

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/

Chris Hurd · February 21st, 2005, 08:51 PM

In his honor, I have added two HST quotes to the DV Info randomizer list (one random quote from a variety of sources appears at the bottom of every content page on DV Info Net). These are:

A word to the wise is infuriating.

and

Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism.

I also wanted to use this one, but it's a bit too long for the context of the quote generator:

The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.

He also said I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me.

Sad news... he was definitely one of a kind.

Charles Papert · February 21st, 2005, 09:23 PM

How about: "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".

Yi Fong Yu · February 21st, 2005, 09:34 PM

i'm not familar with this writer. i know the film fear&loathing but i didn't particularly get the writer. it's kinda strange cause i get writers like chuck palahniuk but i don't HST. can anyone tell me what other works besides f&l and rum adaptation he has done and what makes him so great?

February 20th, 2005, 11:01 PM	#1
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Hunter S. Thompson dead by suicide Writer Hunter S. Thompson dead at 67 Son says counterculture writer shot himself Hunter S. Thompson, the acerbic counterculture writer who popularized a new form of fictional journalism in books like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” fatally shot himself Sunday night at his home, his son said. He was 67. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

February 21st, 2005, 09:43 AM	#6
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Are we sure it was a suicide? He made a lot of people angry. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

February 21st, 2005, 10:32 AM	#7
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	He was suffering from some medical condition I don't remember. He wrote about being in pain all the time. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

February 21st, 2005, 10:57 AM	#8
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Well, this certainly makes it possible to do another remake of "Fear and Loathing" someday. In 5 years we'll see the new hot star (like J. Depp was) do a new version....and the ending will much more Hunter like. He planned this I'm sure....he knew what he was doing. Gun shot? He could have O.D'ed and would have been less cinematic. Heck, I admire someone that goes out with a laugh...I'm sure he did. Although, if his wife came home and didn't know...that actually sucks and he's a loser for doing that to her. I'm not sure about the circumstances, so I guess I shouldn't assume. Bottom line - "Fear and Loathing" is a GREAT film. Kudos Hunter! __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

February 21st, 2005, 11:12 AM	#9
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I don't have my dogeared copy of "Fear and Loathing" with me at the moment, but I seem to remember a passage in there where Hunter described how he'd want to take himself out, something about driving a convertible off a cliff...perhaps someone can quote it. I heard him speak a few times when he was touring colleges in the 80's. Sometimes he was more coherent than others, but always a fun presence and I've enjoyed his writing a lot over the years. I'm sorry to see him go. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

February 21st, 2005, 12:18 AM	#2
Eric Gorski Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Western Oregon Posts: 138	bummer. :(

February 21st, 2005, 01:04 AM	#3
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Angry waters run deep, too, I guess. Guy was full of rage, and often right about this country. I was always proud that Nixon was scared of what Thompson represented.

February 21st, 2005, 08:35 AM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Sad times, although I can't say it's the most surprising news. I wonder if he left a note?

February 21st, 2005, 08:52 AM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Wonder if Trudeau will reference this, since "Uncle Duke" is pretty much patterned off him. "Fear and Loathing" one of my favorites.

February 21st, 2005, 11:22 AM	#10
Scott Anderson Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 327	"Old elephants limp off to the hills to die; old Americans go out to the highway and drive themselves to death with huge cars." -- HST

February 21st, 2005, 11:31 AM	#11
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Faint shades of Hemingway, who also left a corpse for his wife to find.

February 21st, 2005, 11:31 AM	#12
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	Looks like The Rum Diary is in production currently, and with quite a cast... http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/

February 21st, 2005, 08:51 PM	#13
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	In his honor, I have added two HST quotes to the DV Info randomizer list (one random quote from a variety of sources appears at the bottom of every content page on DV Info Net). These are: A word to the wise is infuriating. and Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism. I also wanted to use this one, but it's a bit too long for the context of the quote generator: The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side. He also said I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. Sad news... he was definitely one of a kind. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 21st, 2005, 09:23 PM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	How about: "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro". __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

February 21st, 2005, 09:34 PM	#15
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	i'm not familar with this writer. i know the film fear&loathing but i didn't particularly get the writer. it's kinda strange cause i get writers like chuck palahniuk but i don't HST. can anyone tell me what other works besides f&l and rum adaptation he has done and what makes him so great? __________________ bow wow wow