Evelyn McHale
Evelyn McHale | |
|---|---|
McHale's 1942 high school graduation photograph | |
| Born | Evelyn Francis McHale September 20, 1923 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 1947 (aged 23) New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by jumping |
| Occupation(s) | Bookkeeper, US Army Corps |
Evelyn Francis McHale (September 20, 1923 – May 1, 1947) was an American bookkeeper who jumped to her death from the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building. Robert Wiles, 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.