Infamous Facts About Truman Capote

“Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act”—Truman Capote

Truman Capote won’t necessarily top too many people's top five authors list, but he was a force to be reckoned with in American literary history. He was known for his small stature, his high-pitched voice, and his eccentric mannerisms. His true crime novel In Cold Blood, about a horrific real-life crime, was a bestseller and greatly influenced its genre for years to come. His written works, as well as his much-storied life, have inspired dozens of films. On top of all that, Capote was an openly gay man during decades where refusing to repress one’s non-heterosexuality would have meant the end of their career, and possibly their life. It’s safe to say that there are a lot of interesting facts about Capote, so we here at Factinate have obliged to find the best ones for your reading pleasure!


Truman Capote Facts

1. Oh What’s in a Name?

Capote’s original name had been Truman Streckfus Persons, but he adopted the name “Capote” from his stepfather (to be honest, many people would say that was a wise choice on his part).

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2. Immortalized in Literature

Capote was the famous inspiration behind the character of Dill Harris in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Capote and Lee had grown up together and remained good friends for many years (sadly, they distanced from each other after Capote published In Cold Blood).

Truman Capote facts

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Universal Pictures

3. Humble Origins

Capote was born in New Orleans to a 17-year old woman named Lillie Mae Faulk. She and Capote’s father, Archulus Persons, divorced when Capote was just four years old. After this, Capote grew up in Alabama, where he befriended Harper Lee.

Truman Capote facts

Flickr, Per Se