
Photo: Sporcomutanda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Gore Vidal was born on October 3, 1925 in West Point, New York, United States and was credited as a playwright, actor and screenwriter. Gore Vidal died on July 31, 2012, aged 86. Listed accolades include National Book Award (1993, 2009), Edgar Awards (1955), Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and 2 more. Credited works include Myra Breckinridge.
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
- Occupation
- playwright / actor / screenwriter / novelist / essayist
2. Background
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. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Myra Breckinridge | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore%20Vidal
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B4%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BB%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A3%E3%83%80%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q167821
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Gore Vidal born?
Born October 3, 1925.
When did Gore Vidal die?
Died July 31, 2012, aged 86.
Where was Gore Vidal from?
Gore Vidal was from West Point, New York, United States.
What did Gore Vidal do?
Gore Vidal worked as playwright, actor, screenwriter, novelist, essayist.
What was Gore Vidal known for?
Notable works include Myra Breckinridge.
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