Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement and rose to prominence with the publication of Hell's Angels.
Hunter Stockton Thompson
Journalist
July 18, 1937
Cancer
February 26, 2005
67
Louisville, Kentucky
Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author who established the gonzo journalism movement. He gained prominence after publishing “Hell’s Angels” in 1967, a book based on his first-hand experiences living and riding with the Hells Angels motorcycle club for a year. Thompson’s most renowned work is “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” a humorous account of his drug-fueled journey to report on a motorcycle race in Las Vegas. His other works include “The Rum Diary,” “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72,” and “The Great Shark Hunt.” Thompson co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and contributed to Rolling Stone magazine. As a vocal critic of American politics and culture, he ran for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, in 1970 under the “Freak Power” banner, promoting drug decriminalization and counterculture politics.