9 Surprising Facts About Truman Capote
Just wait until you read what was done with his ashes.
Truman Capote is known as one of the most renowned novelists of our time. The boundary-pushing writer, born in the Deep South during the 1920s, penned some of the most highly acclaimed novels of his time, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood. Besides writing bestsellers, he befriended many powerful people, threw an iconic still-talked-about party at The Plaza, and inspired an entire Ryan Murphy limited series, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
Although Capote died at the relatively young age of 59, he lived a life as vibrant as the stories he wrote. Ahead, we’ll be exploring nine surprising facts about Truman Capote that you might not even know as a fan. From his real name to what was done with his ashes, record how many of these facts you already knew.
More: Truman Capote Thought Answered Prayers Would Be His Defining Work. Instead, It Became His Downfall
He changed his name
“Truman Capote” has a literary ring to it, but he didn’t come into the world with that name. Instead, Capote was born Truman Streckfus Persons, taking on the surname “Garcia Capote” after his stepfather adopted him in 1935.
He became friends with Harper Lee at a young age
Yes, Truman Capote and Harper Lee were good friends. They first met after Capote moved into Lee’s Louisiana neighborhood when he was 4. The duo remained friends for many years, though the relationship became strained when Capote became jealous of Lee’s early-career success with To Kill a Mockingbird.
Keep Reading: Harper Lee and Truman Capote Were Childhood Friends Until Jealously Tore Them Apart
He attended a military academy
Capote’s mother thought that she could toughen him up by sending him to military school, but the experience proved disastrous for the young writer as he was often picked on. He lasted at St. John’s Military Academy for just one year.
He repeated the 12th grade
The author struggled in school and had to repeat the 12th grade at the private Franklin School in Manhattan, now known as the Dwight School. Not one for homework, a teenaged Capote often spent his evenings out at clubs befriending socialites and artists.
His first job was at The New Yorker
Capote’s first job was at The New Yorker, where he was a copyboy. Although he tried to get his writing published in the magazine, he was ultimately unsuccessful and eventually quit to work on a novel full-time.
He befriended many powerful socialites—and then had a falling out
During the 1950s and ’60s, Capote was friends with a glamorous group of socialites dubbed “The Swans.” The powerful bunch included Vogue editor Barbara “Babe” Paley, who was married to the chief executive officer of CBS; Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ younger sister Lee Radziwill, a Giorgio Armani PR exec who married a prince; actor and model Ann Woodward; fashion icon Nancy “Slim” Keith who was always on the best dressed lists; actor C.Z. Guest, who was a Warhol muse; and an Italian noblewoman by the name of Marella Agnelli.
The friendships quickly fell apart after Capote published a chapter of his in-progress book, Answered Prayers, in Esquire, which aired out the Swans’ dark secrets. If you’re loving Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, you might already be familiar with the scandal.
He wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly
Audrey Hepburn did an excellent job playing Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but—perhaps surprisingly—she wasn’t Capote’s first choice. Capote hoped the part would go to Marilyn Monroe, but she turned the offer down.
He threw a huge ball at The Plaza Hotel
Capote appreciated a great party so much that he threw an extravagant masked ball at the Plaza Hotel in 1966. Dubbed “The Black and White Ball,” it cost the writer $16,000 (or $150,000 today) to pull the whole event off.
His remains were auctioned off after he died
Capote’s ashes were auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions in 2016, and somehow, this seems on-brand for the novelist. As the story goes, when Capote died in 1984, his remains were split between his companion Jack Dunphy and longtime friend Joanne Carson, ex-wife of Johnny Carson. Carson’s portion fetched over $43,000 at the auction, and, well, the rest is history.
Brittany is a freelance writer based in her hometown of New York City. She writes about everything from fashion and beauty to food and wellness. When she's not writing, she can often be found at her local library, playing with her cats, or exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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