David Carr Cause of Death: Autopsy Report Says New York Times Columnist Died of Lung Cancer
Autopsy reports have been released indicating New York Times columnist David Carr's cause of death as lung cancer.
Carr was 58 when he passed away Thursday from complications of lung cancer, autopsy reports show.
An active journalist for the last 30 years, Carr previously survived Hodgkin's lymphoma, a lymphatic system cancer, about which he detailed his experiences in "The Night of the Gun." The book is his bestselling 2008 memoir of his time as a cancer patient, where he also recounted his years of drug addiction.
The autopsy report from the New York City chief medical examiner's office explained that Carr had died as a result of complications from metastatic small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma found in his lungs, with a contributing factor of heart disease.
Carr, a life-long smoker, was pronounced dead at the St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital where he was rushed to last Thursday after he collapsed by his desk at the Times Midtown Manhattan offices at around 9 p.m. the same night.
His passing was announced in the newspaper by Dean Baquet, Times executive editor, who referred to him as "the finest media reporter of our generation." His life was also celebrated with tributes from fellow journalists and readers who flooded the Internet with messages. In death, David Carr became a trending topic on Google and Twitter.
Carr joined the Times as a cultural reporter in 2002, and was known for his blunt and plainspoken style of writing. He has been credited with launching "Girls" actress Lena Dunham's career, and at the time of his death, had held a part-time position at Boston University where he headed classes on contemporary and entrepreneurial journalism.
Carr's wake will be on Monday evening with a funeral to be held the following day. He is survived by his second wife, Jill Rooney, their daughter, Maddie, and twins, Erin and Meagan from a former relationship.
