CORONER TO THE STARS
2025, USA, Documentary, Color, 85 minutes
Directed by: Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno
Written by: Ben Hethcoat, John Henry Hinkel, Keita Ideno
Produced by: Billy Ray Brewton, Ben Hethcoat, Tommy Andres, John Henry Hinkel
Executive Produced by:

P David Ebersole & Todd Hughes

Starring: Dr. Thomas Noguchi, George Takei, Janice Hahn, Dr. Cyril Wecht, Dan Medina, Rosalind Marks
Cinematography by: Michelle Lawler, Erica Chan
Edited by: Keita Ideno, Ben Hethcoat
Music by: Mondo Boys
Summary: 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 crosshairs of controversy.
Film Festival Premieres: WORLD PREMIERE Slamdance (February 23, 2025)
Awards: SLAMDANCE Best Documentary Audience Award (2025)

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PRESS

  • NEW YORK TIMES “At 98, the ‘Coroner to the Stars’ Is Getting One Last Act”
  • INDIEWIRE “Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners from Inaugural Los Angeles Edition”
  • ARTS BEAT L.A. “Slamdance 2025 Review: ‘Coroner to the Stars’”