Thomas Noguchi Biography

Thomas Noguchi’s 15 years as the chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County earned him the nickname of “Coroner to the Stars.”

Born in Japan, Thomas Noguchi graduated from Nippon Medical School in 1951. He emigrated to California, and was appointed a deputy coroner for Los Angeles County in 1961. He became the county’s chief medical examiner in 1967. As such, he performed or oversaw autopsies on celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and Robert F. Kennedy.

Noguchi became a celebrity in his own right, and his high profile made him a somewhat controversial figure. He stepped down as chief coroner in 1982 but continued to work with the county, finally retiring in 1999. His 1983 memoir Coroner was a best-seller.