Thomas E. Gaddis
Born
Thomas Eugene Gaddis

September 14, 1908
Denver, Colorado
DiedOctober 10, 1984 (age 76)
Portland, Oregon
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAuthor
Known forBirdman of Alcatraz

Thomas Eugene Gaddis (September 14, 1908 – October 10, 1984) was an American writer most noted for his biography, Birdman of Alcatraz (1955), about convicted murderer Robert Stroud. It was adapted as a 1962 film of the same name, starring Burt Lancaster.

Early life and education

Born in Denver, Colorado, Gaddis attended local schools before college.

Career

In his early career, Gaddis served seven years as a Los Angeles probation officer and taught adult classes at night school for around 12 years.[1] He wrote many non-fiction books, mostly biographies.

He wrote Birdman of Alcatraz (1955), for which he was well-known. He also wrote about another convict, in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1970), co-written with James O. Long, about serial killer Carl Panzram.[2]

Birdman of Alcatraz

Gaddis published Birdman of Alcatraz in 1955. It is considered one of the nation's notable prison biographies. He explored the life of Robert Stroud, a grandson of a federal judge. Stroud was convicted of murder in Alaska and first sentenced to Leavenworth Federal prison in Kansas. After stabbing a guard to death in prison, Stroud was sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement.

While in solitary in Leavenworth, Stroud became an expert on birds. He cared for them in his cell and learned independently about how to treat their diseases. He wrote Stroud's Digest of the Diseases of Birds in Leavenworth from 1939 to 1941.[3] After he was transferred to Alcatraz, he was not allowed to keep any birds.

Gaddis's book was loosely adapted as the 1962 film Birdman of Alcatraz, starring Burt Lancaster as Stroud. Gaddis was portrayed by Edmond O'Brien.[4]

Gaddis is known for the following quote:

"Alcatraz, the federal prison with a name like the blare of a trombone, is a black molar in the jawbone of the nation's prison system."

Later career

Later in life, Gaddis worked as an educator at Reed College from 1962 to 1965, as well as a court consultant and psychologist, in addition to writing.[1]

Death

Gaddis died in Portland, Oregon, on October 10, 1984, at age 76.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "'Birdman of Alcatraz' author, Thomas Gaddis". The Bangor Daily News. October 13, 1984. p. 27.
  2. ^ Bovsun, Mara (November 15, 2008). "Carl Panzram: Diary of a Monster". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Rego Barry, Rebecca (August 10, 2016). "Birdman of Alcatraz's personal bird atlas to go to auction". The Guardian. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Pomerance, Murray; Palmer, R. Barton (2011). A Little Solitaire: John Frankenheimer and American Film. Rutgers University Press p. 148. ISBN 978-0-8135-5059-6.
  5. ^ "Thomas E. Gaddis Dies at 76; Wrote 'Birdman of Alcatraz'". The New York Times. October 13, 1984. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
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