Truman Capote is among the most prolific American writers of all time and was the literary talent behind novels such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” which went to become a cult-classic movie, and the true crime novel “In Cold Blood.”
During his decades in the spotlight, Capote also came to form friendships with some of America’s most prominent socialites, including C.Z. Guest, Lee Radziwill and Lynn Wyatt. Although Capote passed away in 1984 at the age of 59, he is still remembered as a pop culture icon.
In 2005, the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman portrayed the novelist in “Capote,” a film that depicted the details of Capote writing “In Cold Blood.”
Now, TV producer Ryan Murphy is documenting the tumultuous relationship between Capote and his socialite set in “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.”
WWD takes a closer look at the writer’s style through the years.
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Truman Capote, 1965
Image Credit: WWD (L-R): Truman Capote, Lee Radziwell and Rachel Lambert Lloyd arriving at an event at the Asia House hosted by Jacqueline Kennedy for John K. Galbraith in New York in 1965.
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Truman Capote, 1966
Image Credit: WWD Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham and writer Truman Capote arriving at Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in 1966.
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Truman Capote, 1968
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote arriving for a party in his honor in 1968.
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Truman Capote, 1968
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote arriving for a party in his honor in 1968.
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Truman Capote, 1969
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote walking with an unidentified woman past The Colony Restaurant in New York in 1969.
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Truman Capote, 1970
Image Credit: Nick Ackerman Truman Capote relaxing in Palm Springs, Calif., in 1970.
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Truman Capote, 1972
Image Credit: WWD Writer Truman Capote arriving to Gloria Cooper’s townhouse for a dinner to honor actor Charlie Chaplin in 1972.
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Truman Capote, 1972
Image Credit: BY SAL TRAINA/WWD ARCHIVE Writer Truman Capote outside Orsini’s restaurant in New York in 1972.
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Truman Capote, 1972
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote (L) attends a party for Prentis Cobb Hale and Denise Hale at Le Bistro in Los Angeles on April 19, 1972.
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Truman Capote, 1973
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote (C) attends the reopening of the Colony Club in New York City on Jan. 18, 1973.
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Truman Capote, 1972
Image Credit: WWD George Christy (L) and Truman Capote (R) attend a party at the Bistro in Los Angeles on May 15, 1976.
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Truman Capote, 1976
Image Credit: Lynn Karlin Truman Capote and C.Z. Guest in the Jansen-decorated living room with the faux leopard rug and doll-sized faux leopard side chairs, little islands of black lacquer T.V. trays at the ready for a luncheon for six people, the pair wear the new “C.Z. Green” garden jumpsuits circa June 1976.
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Truman Capote, 1977
Image Credit: WWD (L-R) C.Z. Guest, Truman Capote and Joyce Haber attend a party at Tavern on the Green in New York City on March 28, 1977.
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Truman Capote, 1978
Image Credit: Tony Palmieri Truman Capote dancing with socialite friend C.Z. Guest on the new dance floor during the Studio 54 re-opening party.
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Truman Capote, 1978
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote dancing with socialite friend C.Z. Guest on the new dance floor during the Studio 54 re-opening party.
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Truman Capote, 1978
Image Credit: DNR (Center; L-R): Steve Rubell and Truman Capote attend a party at Studio 54 in New York City on April 26, 1978.
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Truman Capote, 1979
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote (L) and Ethel Scull attend a party benefitting the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance at Studio 54 in New York City on June 22, 1978.
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Truman Capote, 1979
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote and Lynn Wyatt attend an event at the Summit in Houston on March 26, 1979.
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Truman Capote, 1979
Image Credit: John Bright Singer Diana Ross and writer Truman Capote at a New Year’s Eve party in 1979.
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Truman Capote, 1980
Image Credit: WWD Truman Capote (L) and William Kessler (C) attend a dinner, following a reading of works by Capote at Lincoln Center, inside Halston’s New York City showroom on Dec. 17, 1980.