Vincent Bugliosi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vincent Bugliosi
|
|
|---|---|
Bugliosi at the North Hollywood Branch Library in 2009
|
|
| Born | August 18, 1934 Hibbing, Minnesota, US |
| Died | June 6, 2015 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation | Attorney, author |
| Education | University of Miami (1956) UCLA School of Law (1964) |
| Genre | True Crime, History, Politics |
| Notable works | Helter Skelter (1974) And the Sea Will Tell (1991) Outrage (1996) Reclaiming History (2007) The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (2008) |
| Notable awards | Edgar Allan Poe Award (1975, 1979, 2008) |
| Spouse | Gail Bugliosi |
| Children | 2 |
Vincent T. Bugliosi Jr. (August 18, 1934 – June 6, 2015) was an American lawyer and a very successful author. His books often appeared on New York Times bestseller lists.
For eight years, he worked in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. During this time, he won 105 out of 106 serious court cases that went to a jury. This included 21 cases where people were found guilty of murder. He became famous for prosecuting Charles Manson and others involved in the Tate–LaBianca murders in 1969.
In 1972, Bugliosi left the District Attorney's office. He started his own law practice. He also began writing books about well-known criminal cases.
One of his most famous books is Helter Skelter (1974), which he wrote with Curt Gentry. This book is about the investigation and trial of Charles Manson and the Manson Family. It won an Edgar Award in 1975. It is still the best-selling true crime book in US history.
He wrote many other books, mostly about famous crimes. These include And the Sea Will Tell (1991) and Reclaiming History (2007). In Reclaiming History, he looked closely at the events around the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Contents
Who Was Vincent Bugliosi?
Vincent Bugliosi was a well-known American lawyer and author. He was famous for his work as a prosecutor and for his detailed books about major criminal cases. He often shared his strong opinions on legal matters and important historical events.
Early Life and Education
Vincent Bugliosi was born on August 18, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota. His parents were of Italian background. When he was in high school, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. He finished high school at Hollywood High School.
He went to the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship. He graduated in 1956. In 1964, he earned his law degree from the UCLA School of Law. He was even the president of his graduating class there.
His Career as a Lawyer
Bugliosi started his law career in 1964. He worked as a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County for eight years. He was very successful in his court cases. He won 105 out of 106 serious jury trials. This included 21 cases where people were found guilty of murder.
The Famous Manson Trial
Bugliosi became nationally known for prosecuting the seven murders that happened on August 9–10, 1969. These murders involved Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, and others.
Bugliosi successfully prosecuted Charles Manson and several of his followers. All of them were found guilty. He was especially praised for getting a conviction against Manson. Manson had not directly taken part in the murders himself.
Becoming an Author
After leaving the District Attorney's office in 1972, Bugliosi started writing. He wrote Helter Skelter (1974) with Curt Gentry. This book was about the Manson trial. It won an Edgar Award for the best true crime book of the year.
The book was made into two TV movies. As of 2015, it is the best-selling true crime book ever. More than 7 million copies have been sold. In his books, Bugliosi often shared his thoughts. He would sometimes criticize how the media, lawyers, and judges acted in big trials.
Writing About Famous Cases
Bugliosi wrote Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O. J. Simpson Got Away with Murder (1996). This book was about the trial of O. J. Simpson. Bugliosi believed Simpson was guilty. He criticized the work of the lawyers and the judge in that case. He also criticized the media for calling Simpson's lawyers "the Dream Team." He thought they were just average lawyers.
He also had strong opinions about the decision in the 2000 presidential election. He wrote a long criticism for The Nation magazine. This was later made into a book called The Betrayal of America.
Bugliosi also believed that former president George W. Bush should have faced legal action. This was because of Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq. In his book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (2008), he explained his views. He even outlined what questions he would ask Bush in a trial.
His Book on the JFK Assassination
Bugliosi spent a lot of time researching the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In 1986, he acted as the prosecutor in a mock TV trial of Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald was the person accused of the assassination. The jury in this mock trial found Oswald guilty.
This experience led Bugliosi to write a very detailed book on the subject. His book, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, was published in 2007. It was over 1,600 pages long. His findings matched those of the Warren Report. This report concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. The book won an Edgar Award in 2008. A part of the book was later made into the 2013 film Parkland.
Bugliosi believed that the true history of the Kennedy assassination had been taken over by conspiracy theories. He felt this was harmful to American thinking.
How He Wrote His Books
Vincent Bugliosi did not own a computer. For his research, he used library microfilm archives. In his later years, he had a virtual assistant, Rosemary Newton, help him. He also wrote all his books by hand. Newton would then type up his handwritten notes.
Later Life and Passing
Vincent Bugliosi passed away from cancer on June 6, 2015. He was 80 years old. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Books by Vincent Bugliosi
- Helter Skelter (with Curt Gentry) (1974)
- Till Death Us Do Part: A True Murder Mystery (with Ken Hurwitz) (1978)
- Shadow of Cain (with Ken Hurwitz) (1981)
- Lullaby and Good Night (with William Stadiem) (1987)
- Cleopatra: Biography (1988)
- Dinner with the Timbo: Getting to Know a Great Man (with Timothy Bishop) (1990)
- And the Sea Will Tell (with Bruce Henderson) (1991)
- Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O. J. Simpson Got Away with Murder (1996)
- No Island of Sanity: Paula Jones v. Bill Clinton—The Supreme Court on Trial (1998)
- The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President (2001)
- Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (2007)
- The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (2008)
- Four Days in November: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (2008)
- Divinity of Doubt: The God Question (2011)
Vincent Bugliosi in Movies and TV
Many of Bugliosi's books have been made into movies or TV shows. He also appeared as himself in some of them.
- Helter Skelter 1976 (played by George DiCenzo)
- On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald (1986 TV film, he appeared as himself)
- And the Sea Will Tell 1991 TV film (played by Richard Crenna)
- Till Death Us Do Part 1992 TV film (played by Arliss Howard)
- Helter Skelter 2004 (played by Bruno Kirby)
He also appeared as himself in the 1973 documentary film Manson.
Images for kids
-
Bugliosi at the North Hollywood Branch Library in 2009
-
Grave of Vincent Bugliosi at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
See also
In Spanish: Vincent Bugliosi para niños
