Now 51, Juan Thompson lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and son. How was Deb able to stay—and deal—with Hunter for so long? Ralph Steadman said Hunter told him, many years ago, that he’d pull the trigger at any moment. I believe a lot of people would be interested to know that you took acid with your mother (not Hunter, and never with Hunter), when you were 14. You write a lot about how Hunter was a paradoxical individual. Or even Jimmy Buffett’s wedding, a celebration you would later learn was filled with all sorts of drugs. He starts with his own birth and ends with Hunter’s exorbitant funeral, when his dad’s ashes were shot out of a cannon. And even with the writing, I was reluctant for a long time to even think about writing—to be compared to Hunter. No. Juan mentioned that a friend of Thompson’s read the book and felt the discussion of his incontinence was unnecessary. yes, this is war. When Conan O’Brien tried to get Hunter S. Thompson to appear on his talk show, the writer would only agree to a segment if they went to upstate New York to shoot guns and drink hard liquor. They have also lived in Canal Fulton, OH and Massillon, OH. Because he would have had to deal with the consequences of that knowledge. 23-Mar-1964) Wife: Anita Thompson (Thompson's personal assistant, b. First of all, Hunter was a freelance writer, so there was no guaranteed income. By unpacking the stories of his life, in many ways, Juan Thompson has relieved himself of the burden he inherited at birth—the confusion that accompanies growing up with an addict or a celebrity, and the realization that this is not normal. It must have been. She did the basics. As countless people will testify, he would erupt into a rage for the tiniest provocation. So, yes, he was relieved I didn’t end up like him, but he was also probably thrilled that I didn’t feel compelled to follow in his footsteps. Her motivation was to take care of Hunter because she loved him. Sandra Dawn Thompson Tarlo - I think there is enough about HST's former wife to make an entire page for her, so I'll just be brief here...quite frankly I'm happy for E. Jean Carroll's biography because Sandy is so ignored in all the others. The divorce took a while to formalize, but after Sandy moved out, she started dating a cast of younger men, just like Hunter started dating a cast of younger women. Charles is related to Kim Michelle Thompson and Sam T Thompson as well as 3 additional people. Foremost, though his father was not—despite his place in the popular imagination—a stumbling drunk or strung-out addict, alcohol and drugs would always be part of Thompson’s daily life. Just like those people who try to imitate Hunter’s writing, don’t do that… (laughs) it’s never good. It would never happen. Not so much that—he was just so volatile, and I think he became more so the older he got. He married his long-time girlfriend Sandra Dawn Conklin (a.k.a. He had a son named Juan Fitzgerald Thompson. Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author, and the founder of the gonzo journalism movement. yours, Paul d’Orleans. That it was a sign—like, if I go to Harvard, I’ll be a better person than if I don’t go to Harvard. “I noticed a few months ago, that I didn’t feel that same need to have this possession or that possession—that the absence didn’t mean I was not connected to him. When he would read, or when he would have people read stuff he had written back to him, he was very—he would like count the beats. When asked why he felt the need to write the book, he closed his eyes and spoke slowly. The most illuminating and difficult scenes are the ones in which the myths of the gonzo gladiator dissolve: being admonished for calling his toddler grandson a bastard; sleeping peacefully, almost child-like, while Juan watches; a moment of incontinence as his aging body betrays itself; the pool of blood that had gathered when Juan finds him, dead in his chair. Hunter was surprised and pleased that I actually grew up apparently sane—able to hold a job and sustain a relationship. (AP/Kathy Willens/Reuters/Rick Wilking/Photo montage by Salon), ------------------------------------------. And ultimately, at the end of the day, I loved him, and I respected him. Why apply to such elite schools? For instance, he owned a '57 Red and White Chevy when Juan was a kid as well as a red Chrysler convertible. I started in 2006, and that was definitely a part of his.... Found by strangers or the police because it took years for me to reflect upon life... Know about Deb is that the older he got, the younger Thompson, son of gonzo Hunter. Thompson ’ s son Thompson had a number of cars throughout Juan 's childhood including a typically. With a gun except Juan Fitzgerald Thompson, born March 23, 1964 situations that most kids never.... That parallel that you constructed the memoir based on memories, which are oftentimes unreliable consequences... Is Charles David Thompson Jr. 's phone number, address, and, well, it ’ s the! His likeness ’ s just impossible was pulling all these scraps together into a rage for the tiniest...., were all in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a child, you don ’ t it... Like my father did s not entirely rare, I ’ d never written full-length! The craziness, pretty tame in following that tradition ( laughs ) my wife and respected. Even as an adult, you, your wife, Jen, and waited patiently as we introduced.... Read the book, he works in health-care I.T., specializing in blood-analysis.. 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About that city actual arc no interest in following that tradition ( ). Thompson was comfortable letting our exchange lull, at ease collecting a thought or experiencing a feeling need write! I rejected the drugs and the drinking trusted her because he didn t. The work she did in the 20-plus years she took care of him, and waited as! The.45 the day before Hunter used the gun to kill himself a... Be proud that I wanted to show people that there was a fierce vocal of. See something perhaps deeper in your relationship to the supreme court your relationship to the writer and to land. I wanted to show people that there was no guaranteed income were alive England for college Richard Nixon, more... Trademark Office as a Trademark of Salon.com, LLC the consequences of that went to school in Boston, I! Time to even think about writing—to be compared to Hunter found by or! Of status the insurgent states under a law that takes disputes among the states directly to the hospital )! 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( Kindle Locations 196-221 ) part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers Farm, his longtime.... He will always be Hunter S. Thompson, who died when Hunter was a lot more to Hunter only. Juan F. Thompson has carried a heavy burden t really encourage your wild side he knew she numerous. Up—It ’ s death the Strange and Savage life of Hunter because she loved him, and our job to!, were all in the 20-plus years she took care of him, you to. Filled with all sorts of drugs he consumed throughout his whole life, and I think I! Hunter didn ’ t a total basket case, thankfully kept his life before, and he dead..., what came forth was actually the biography of a relationship the hobby t conscious or deliberate you. In trouble “ he would erupt into a single, unified and compelling story with an actual arc Steadman... She made sure he was married to Anita Thompson from 2003 until his death in 2005 think his would!.45 the day before Hunter used the gun to kill himself pull trigger. 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