Author John Gilmore

A Hollywood native, and a one-time child actor, John Gilmore is the author of Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder, depicting the murder of Elizabeth Short. During his research on this case, he occupied an office (right) in the Bradbury Building in LA.

Gilmore's mother was a bit player at MGM studios and his father, ironically, was a police officer with the LAPD.

Aside from Severed, Gilmore has authored four other titles, all investigative counts of the lives of famous people and criminals. They are:

Live Fast, Die Young - Remembering the Short Life of James Dean (whom Gilmore knew)
The Garbage People - The Trip to Helter Skelter and Beyond with Charlie Manson and the Family
Laid Bare - A Memoir of Wrecked Lives and the Hollywood Death Trip
Cold Blooded - The Saga of Charles Schmid, The Notorious "Pied Piper of Tucson"

Today, Gilmore spends his time between California and New Mexico. He continues to research various topics, write, and has appeared on several television talk shows, interview shows and specials.

John Gilmore on his 1951 Harley He also enjoys riding the highways with his 1951 Harley. (Photo September 1997)

My work walks a wire between desperation and desolation in search of the truth itself.
- John Gilmore