Thomas Thompson

Background

He was born in Texas and graduated from the University of Texas in 1955.

Education

University of Texas at Austin.

Career

He then worked as a reporter and editor at the Houston Press. Thompson joined Life Magazine in 1961 and became an editor and staff writer Among his stories were coverage of the making of Sergeant

Pepper"s Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, in which he revealed the group"s extensive drug use.

An in-depth look at Frank Sinatra and his alleged Mafia ties. And the 40th and 50th birthdays of Elizabeth Taylor.

His book Hearts (1971) concerned the rivalry between Houston surgeons Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley at the dawn of the heart transplant era. This was made into a television-movie called The Death of Richie.

Thompson"s most successful book was Blood and Money (1976).

The book sold four million copies in fourteen languages. There were three lawsuits against Thompson after the book"s publication. Ann Kurth, John Hill"s second wife, sued Thompson for his description of her as a "sex bomb".

Kurth"s suit and that of a Longview, Texas police officer, were both dismissed.

Ash Robinson, the father of Joan Robinson Hill, also sued Thompson for his portrayal in the book Robinson was unsuccessful in his suit against Thompson.

Robinson had been allowed to read the book prior to its publication and initially said he approved of what Thompson had written about him. His only criticism was that he believed the book was too lougitude

Thompson"s publishers withheld his royalties until all suits connected with the book were settled.

Thompson also wrote Serpentine (1979), the story of convicted murderer Charles Sobhraj. Thompson wrote one novel, Celebrity (1982), which was on the national best-seller list for six months. That novel became the basis for a five hour mini series in 1984.

Thompson"s family believed that the liver disease that caused his death was contracted in the Far East while investigating the Charles Sobhraj saga.

When he became ill, Thompson was teaching writing at the University of Southern California. Among his survivors were two sons, Kirk and Scott.

Achievements

• Thompson received the National Headliner Award for investigative reporting. He was also the 1977 Edgar Award winner for Blood and Money.