I saw The Aviator, very good movie...it didn't touch on his later years and when I did a search all it said about his death is that it was bizarre, he was only 71 when he died, can anyone tell me the circumstances surrounding his death?

Not that I don't hope to live many years beyond that, but 70 isn't such a young age to die for someone born in 1905. Hughes died from kidney failure April 5, 1976 en route from his Mexican penthouse to Houston's Methodist hospital. It is likely but unconfirmed that he had syphillis in his later years. He had to be identified by his fingerprints, presumably because of the degree of reclusiveness he had adopted, but wikipedia and other sources simply say that he was "unrecognizable" without explaining why.



This site offers more details in the last 3-4 paragraphs, but I don't know if it is at all reliable.

Your second link fits in with what I remember reading at the time of Hughes' death, Methos. Hughes was emaciated, almost skeletal, with very long hair and fingernails, and appeared to be suffering from long term neglect. Unwashed and unshaven, he looked as if the only care he got was the minimum amount to keep his body alive.

Thanks...I guess you're right about 70 not being that young at that time...he may have been able to live longer if he would have been able to venture out and get proper medical care. Thanks again for the links!