US author Gore Vidal dead at 86

Gore Vidal, the American author and playwright, has died at the age of 86.

He passed away at his home in the Hollywood Hills earlier today after suffering complications from pneumonia.

Vidal penned dozens of novels and screenplays, including the best-sellers ‘Lincoln’ and ‘Burr’.

The writer also ran for public office twice and was a constant thorn in the side of America’s political establishment.

He regularly lambasted lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties in his essays on politics.

In 2008, Vidal backed one Democratic congressman’s bid to impeach the then president, George W. Bush, over his decision to invade Iraq.

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