Photo: Sporcomutanda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Gore Vidal was a writer who used language as a blade, and I find that bracing. Born at West Point and equally at home in novels, essays, plays and screenplays, he made a career of puncturing American pieties about politics and sexuality. Two National Book Awards and an Edgar confirm the craft, but his real legacy is intellectual fearlessness. He courted enemies and never softened his pen for comfort. As a public intellectual he modeled a kind of independent, unflinching thought that feels increasingly rare. Since his death in 2012 the prose has lost none of its edge, which is the surest sign of greatness.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Gore Vidal
- Name (Japanese)
- ゴア・ヴィダル
- Reading
- ごあ・ゔぃだる
- Born
- October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Ox
- Origin
- West Point, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- playwright / actor / screenwriter / novelist / essayist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1993 National Book Award
- 1955 Edgar Awards
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- 2009 National Book Award
- 1982 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism
- 1983 Lucien Barrière Literary Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Myra Breckinridge | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Gore Vidal born?
October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012.
Where is Gore Vidal from?
Gore Vidal is from West Point, New York, United States.
What does Gore Vidal do?
Gore Vidal works as playwright, actor, screenwriter, novelist, essayist.
What is Gore Vidal known for?
Notable works include Myra Breckinridge.
Playwright — see all → · Actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.