Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D.

Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D., formerly chief medical examiner/coroner for the County of Los Angeles, is best known for his investigations into the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the drug-related deaths of Marilyn Monroe and John Belushi, and the drowning of Natalie Wood—cases he re-examined in his 1985 book, Coroner. Currently Professor Emeritus of Forensic Pathology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Noguchi also continues to serve Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California Medical Center in multiple capacities. Born in Japan, Noguchi earned his medical degree from Nippon Medical School in 1951 before serving a series of residencies that included the Los Angeles County Department of the Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner. In 1991, Noguchi was given the Outstanding Service Award by the National Association of Medical Examiners, and in 1999 the Emperor of Japan awarded him The Order of the Sacred Treasure for outstanding contribution to Japan in the area of forensic science.