Dominick Dunne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominick Dunne
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Dunne in 1999
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| Born |
Dominick John Dunne
October 29, 1925 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Died | August 26, 2009 (aged 83) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Williams College |
| Spouse(s) |
Ellen Griffin Dunne
(m. 1954; div. 1965) |
| Children | 5, including Griffin and Dominique Dunne |
| Relatives | John Gregory Dunne (brother) Joan Didion (sister-in-law) Hannah Dunne (granddaughter) |
Dominick John Dunne (October 29, 1925 – August 26, 2009) was an American writer, journalist, and producer. He started his career in movies and television. He produced films like The Boys in the Band (1970) and the award-winning The Panic in Needle Park (1971).
In the early 1970s, he began writing. After a sad event involving his daughter, Dominique Dunne, in 1982, he started writing about how wealthy and famous people were treated in court. Dunne often wrote for Vanity Fair magazine. From the 1980s, he also appeared on television to discuss important court cases.
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Early Life and Family
Dominick Dunne was born in 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the second of six children. His father, Richard Edwin Dunne, was a heart surgeon. His mother was Dorothy Frances Burns.
His family was well-off, but Dunne felt like an outsider. He grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, which was mostly a different community. As a boy, people called him Nicky.
He went to Kingswood School and Canterbury School (Connecticut). During his last year of high school, he joined the Army. Dunne served in World War II and earned a Bronze Star for bravery. After the war, he went to Williams College and graduated in 1949.
Dominick's younger brother was John Gregory Dunne (1932–2003). John was also a writer and married the writer Joan Didion. The brothers wrote a column together for The Saturday Evening Post. They also worked together on the film The Panic in Needle Park.
Career Highlights
After college, Dunne moved to New York City. He became a stage manager for television shows. Famous actor Humphrey Bogart later brought him to Hollywood. There, Dunne worked on shows like Playhouse 90. He became a vice president at Four Star Television.
He often spent time with famous Hollywood people. But in 1979, he left Hollywood and moved to Oregon. There, he faced personal challenges and wrote his first book, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles.
Writing About Justice
In November 1982, his daughter, Dominique Dunne, passed away. She was an actress known for her role in Poltergeist. Dominick Dunne attended the court case related to her death. He felt the outcome was unfair. This experience led him to write an article for Vanity Fair in 1984.
After this, Dunne started writing regularly for Vanity Fair. He wrote several popular novels based on real-life events. These included stories inspired by famous court cases. He also hosted a TV show called Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice on Court TV. On this show, he talked about how justice worked, especially for celebrities.
He covered many well-known trials, such as those involving O. J. Simpson and the Menéndez brothers. His writing about the Menéndez trial was even chosen for a collection of American true crime stories.
Later Career and Recognition
In 2005, former Congressman Gary Condit received a financial settlement from Dunne. Dunne had made comments about Condit related to a disappearance case. Dunne later stated he did not mean to suggest Condit was involved.
Throughout his life, Dunne often socialized with famous people. He wrote about them and was photographed with them. He was known for being able to connect with artists, actors, and writers.
In 2008, at age 82, Dunne traveled to Las Vegas. He covered O. J. Simpson's trial for Vanity Fair. He said this would be his last assignment of that kind. He had reported on Simpson's first trial and felt strongly about the outcomes of such cases.
Dunne's experiences in Hollywood were shown in the documentary film Dominick Dunne: After the Party (2008). This film showed his struggles and successes in the entertainment world. It also covered his time as a World War II veteran and his family life. Another film, Guilty Pleasure (2002), gave a more open look at his life.
Final Years
In September 2008, Dunne shared that he was being treated for bladder cancer. He was working on a book called Too Much Money when he passed away.
Dominick Dunne died on August 26, 2009, at his home in Manhattan. He was buried in Cove Cemetery in Hadlyme, Connecticut.
On October 29, 2009, which would have been his 84th birthday, his family and friends gathered. They celebrated his life at the Chateau Marmont. Vanity Fair magazine also honored him in its November 2009 issue.
Family Life
Dunne was married to Ellen Beatriz Griffin from 1954 to 1965. They had three children who lived: Alexander Dunne, and actors Griffin Dunne and Dominique Dunne. They also had two daughters who passed away as babies.
His daughter, Dominique Dunne, was known for her role in the film Poltergeist. She passed away in November 1982. Dominick Dunne covered the court case for Vanity Fair. He and his family were very upset with the outcome of the trial.
Images for kids
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Dominick Dunne in 1999
