Elizabeth Eden

Elizabeth Eden
Born August 19, 1946(1946-08-19)
Died September 29, 1987(1987-09-29) (aged 41)

Elizabeth Debbie "Liz" Eden (August 19, 1946 – September 29, 1987) was an American transsexual woman whose boyfriend John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a bank to pay for her sex reassignment surgery. The incident was made into the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon.[1] The character Leon Shermer (played by Chris Sarandon) is loosely based on her.[2]

Eden, then known as Ernest Aron, and Wojtowicz were married on December 4, 1971 in Greenwich Village.[3] At the time of Wojtowicz's attempted robbery of a Chase Manhattan bank branch in Brooklyn, New York, on August 22, 1972, she was in a psychiatric institution, following a series of suicide attempts. Eden was not previously aware of his plans.

After the failed heist, Wojtowicz was sentenced to 20 years, although he was released in April 1987; while imprisoned, he sold the movie rights to the story for $7,500 and subsequently was able to help finance Eden's sex reassignment surgery.

Eden, born in Ozone Park, Queens, died of pneumonia resulting from AIDS in Rochester, New York.[3] Her personal papers and photographs were donated posthumously to the National Archive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender History at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Community Center on June 14, 1990.

References

  1. ^ Elizabeth Eden, Transsexual Who Figured in 1975 Movie, New York Times, October 1, 1987, http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/01/obituaries/elizabeth-eden-transsexual-who-figured-in-1975-movie.html 
  2. ^ Photos, L. (2003). "The Dog and the Last Real Man". Journal of Bisexuality 3 (2): 43–68. doi:10.1300/J159v03n02_04.  edit
  3. ^ a b Ernest Aron Became Elizabeth Eden - AIDS Kills Woman Behind 'Dog Day', Los Angeles Times, September 30, 1987, http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-30/news/mn-7384_1_dog-day-afternoon 

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