CORONER TO THE STARS
A film by Ben Hethcoat
2025, 83 minutes
2025, 83 minutes
No. 479
Documentary
Documentary
Description
Coroner to the Stars chronicles the extraordinary journey of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner whose groundbreaking autopsies forever shaped American culture.
From Marilyn Monroe and Robert Kennedy to Sharon Tate and Natalie Wood, Noguchi pushed forensic science into the spotlight—even as Hollywood elites and political adversaries sought to silence him. A Japanese immigrant who unwittingly rose to fame in a city driven by stardom, Noguchi’s fearless pursuit of truth often placed him in the crosshairs of controversy. Featuring George Takei.
Festivals
Winner, Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature, Slamdance Film Festival
Winner, Audience Award - Documentary Feature, Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
Reviews
"Rock-solid in its exploration of race, science and history, Coroner to the Stars thoughtfully considers the challenge of acting professionally with what is sensational." - The Movie Gourmet
"... the film prove[s] thoroughly engaging. Filled with generous amounts of supporting material, from interviews with Noguchi’s contemporaries, supporters (such as actor George Takei), students, lawyers, and others, to archival footage of press conferences and clips from news material and films starring many of the people whose autopsies he performed. This documentary is a fitting tribute." - Hammer to Nail
"But even many of Noguchi’s critics would concede that he put forensic pathology on the map, elevating the autopsy to something of an art form and ushering in an era of intense public intrigue over the manner and cause of celebrity death...The film casts a sympathetic light on Noguchi, assembling a cast of current and former coroners, a county supervisor — whose father, in that same post, voted against Noguchi’s dismissal — and Japanese Americans who rallied behind Noguchi as he was being investigated." - NYTimes profile of Dr. Noguchi
