Truman Garcia Capote ( [ ˈtruːmən_kəˈpoʊti ] born Truman Streckfus Persons , September 30 , 1924 -- August 25 , 1984 ) was an American novelist , screenwriter , playwright , and actor , many of whose short stories , novels , plays , and nonfiction are recognized as literary classics , including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany 's ( 1958 ) and the true crime novel In Cold Blood ( 1966 ) , which he labeled a `` nonfiction novel '' . He had discovered his calling as a writer by the age of 8 ( The Dick Cavett Show , aired August 21 , 1980 ) , and for the rest of his childhood he honed his writing ability . Capote began his professional career writing short stories . The critical success of one story , `` Miriam '' ( 1945 ) , attracted the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf , and resulted in a contract to write the novel Other Voices , Other Rooms ( 1948 ) .
Truman Capote is an American writer.