Autopsies, Fame, and Scandal: Inside the Life of Thomas Noguchi

What happens when a Japanese immigrant becomes Hollywood’s most powerful and controversial coroner? In this gripping conversation, Saadia sits down with historian and author Anne Soon Choi to unpack the life of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, LA’s former Chief Medical Examiner and the man behind some of the most infamous autopsies in American history—Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, and Natalie Wood, to name a few. But this story isn’t just about celebrity deaths. It’s about race, politics, media spectacle, and how one immigrant used science and savvy to claim space in a system never built for him. We also explore society’s obsession with true crime, the moral questions it raises, and what happens when immigrants are erased from even the stories they shaped. If you’re into true crime, history, or immigrant narratives or want to know why Frank Sinatra once wrote a scathing letter to defend a celebrity’s corpse—this one’s for you. Want in on our upcoming podcast club? DM us @immigrantlypods on IG! Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ & ⁠Spotify⁠ to help more people find us!  You can connect with Saadia on ⁠Twitter ⁠@swkkhan Email: [e-mail] Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [e-mail] Don't forget to subscribe to our Apple podcast⁠ channel ⁠for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices