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Coroner to the Stars

Play trailer Poster for Coroner to the Stars 2025 1h 23m Documentary Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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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's outspoken expertise 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 cross hairs of controversy.

Critics Reviews

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Lael Loewenstein FilmWeek (LAist) 1d
He was certainly a unique individual, and I doubt any of us could name a more well-known coroner. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht Jul 23
The lesson is that no one in the Hollywood ecosystem is entirely safe from the temptation of fame, not even the guy doing their autopsies. Go to Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views Jul 19
"Coroner to the Stars" is admirable because it clearly aims to give flowers to Dr. Noguchi while he is alive and can enjoy them but is torn between being thorough and understandably refusing to entertain spurious allegations. Go to Full Review Janet Reinschmidt MovieJawn Jul 17
Coroner to the Stars tells it like it is, exploring the life and career of the most famous medical examiner in the world Go to Full Review Patrick McDonald WBGR-FM (93.7 FM - Monroe, WI) Jul 17
4/5
This was more than a recitation of celebrity deaths and their autopsies by Noguchi, the L.A. country coroner. It also featured sidebars on prejudice, bureaucracy and the overwhelming number of other deaths besides Marilyn Monroe. Goodbye Norma Jean. Go to Full Review Christopher Campbell Nonfics (Substack) Jul 10
His accounts of just these cases (the documentary is fairly brief and brisk, leaving us wanting more stories) are done with terrific recollection and conviction. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Ben Hethcoat

Director

Keita Ideno

Director

Thomas Noguchi

Self

George Takei

Self

Janice Hahn

Self

John Henry Hinkel

Writer
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Coroner to the Stars

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Movie Info

Synopsis 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's outspoken expertise 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 cross hairs of controversy.
Director
Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno
Producer
Ben Hethcoat, Billy Ray Brewton, John Henry Hinkel, Tommy Andres
Screenwriter
John Henry Hinkel, Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno, Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno
Production Co
Make Believe Theatricals, Liaison Pictures, Strangely Compelling Multimedia, The Ebersole Hughes Company
Genre
Documentary, Biography
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 23m