A great American who will be missed!

The author, playwright, politician and commentator whose novels, essays, plays and opinions were stamped by his immodest wit and unconventional wisdom, has died in Los Angeles.

Vidal died at his home in the Hollywood Hills at about 6.45pm on Tuesday of complications from pneumonia, his nephew Burr Steers said. Vidal had been living alone in the home and had been sick for "quite a while", Steers said.