Evelyn McHale | |
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Born | Evelyn Francis McHale September 20, 1923 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
Died | May 1, 1947 New York City, New York, U.S. | (aged 23)
Cause of death | Suicide by jumping |
Occupation(s) | Bookkeeper, US Army Corps |
Evelyn Francis McHale (September 20, 1923 – May 1, 1947)[1] was an American bookkeeper who jumped to her death from the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building. A photography student took a picture of her corpse where it lay on top of a crushed car. The photograph of the dead lady had a "beautiful" aesthetic quality, and was republished around the world. The photograph led Time magazine to call it "the most beautiful suicide". It inspired Andy Warhol, among other artists.[2][3]