In 1971, she and Wojtowicz met at the Feast of San Gennaro in New York City. The two, Elizabeth in a bridal gown and John in military attire, wed in a public ceremony that year.[3] The wedding received widespread attention in local media, even being featured on a segment of Walter Cronkite's news show, CBS Evening News.[4]
Following a series of suicide attempts, which Wojtowicz attributed to Eden's despondency over her inability to afford gender-reassignment surgery, Eden was admitted to a psychiatric institution.[3]
The following year, on August 22, 1972, Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank branch in Gravesend, Brooklyn. He claimed that he attempted the robbery in order to obtain funds so that Eden could have surgery. However, the claim was disputed by some, with Arthur Bell, a respected Village Voice columnist and investigative journalist who knew Wojtowicz, stating that the robbery was due to Wojtowicz's debts to the Mafia.[4] Wojtowicz had also previously expressed opposition to Eden's desire to undergo surgery.[4] Eden was not aware of the plan. Wojtowicz was sentenced to 20 years, but released in 1978. Wojtowicz did two more stretches in prison for parole violations in 1984 and 1986–87. He said he was released in April 1987, and Eden visited him in New York about once a month.[3]
The film Dog Day Afternoon shows Sonny (the Wojtowicz character) making out a will to give Leon (Eden's character) his life insurance so that even if he were killed, "Leon" could pay for the operation. The real-life Wojtowicz was paid $7500, plus 1% of the film's net profits, for the rights to his story, from which he gave Eden enough money to pay for the surgery.[1]
Later life
Following her gender-affirming surgery, Eden legally married someone else, then divorced.[3]
Her personal papers and photographs were donated posthumously to the National Archive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender History at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (New York) on June 14, 1990.[5]
After her death she was one of the characters in the Drunk History episode "Love," telling the story of her and Wojtowicz's romance and the robbery that followed it; she was portrayed by trans actress Trace Lysette.
References
^ abc"Elizabeth Eden, Transsexual Who Figured in Movie". The New York Times. October 1, 1987. from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
^Photos, Lisa (2003). "The Dog and the Last Real Man". Journal of Bisexuality. 3 (2): 43–68. doi:10.1300/J159v03n02_04. S2CID 146591289.
^ abcdef"Ernest Aron Became Elizabeth Eden: AIDS Kills Woman Behind 'Dog Day'". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 30, 1987. from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
^ abcdHoad, J. N. (April 2, 2022). "Who Was Elizabeth Eden?". Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
^. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Center. 1986. Archived from the original on December 17, 2003. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
External links
Liz Eden (Ernest Aron) Papers September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine via LGBT Community Center New York
elizabeth, eden, elizabeth, debbie, eden, born, ernest, aron, august, 1946, september, 1987, american, trans, woman, whose, husband, john, wojtowicz, attempted, bank, robbery, allegedly, change, incident, made, into, crime, drama, film, afternoon, 1975, direct. Elizabeth Debbie Eden born Ernest Aron August 19 1946 September 29 1987 was an American trans woman whose husband John Wojtowicz attempted a bank robbery allegedly to pay for her sex change The incident was made into the crime drama film Dog Day Afternoon 1975 directed by Sidney Lumet 1 The character Leon Shermer played by Chris Sarandon is loosely based on Eden 2 Elizabeth EdenElizabeth Debbie EdenBornErnest Aron 1946 08 19 August 19 1946New York City U S DiedSeptember 29 1987 1987 09 29 aged 41 Rochester New York U S Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Relationship with Wojtowicz 1 3 Later life 2 Legacy 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Eden was born on August 19 1946 in Ozone Park Queens 1 3 Eden was Jewish 4 Relationship with Wojtowicz Edit In 1971 she and Wojtowicz met at the Feast of San Gennaro in New York City The two Elizabeth in a bridal gown and John in military attire wed in a public ceremony that year 3 The wedding received widespread attention in local media even being featured on a segment of Walter Cronkite s news show CBS Evening News 4 Following a series of suicide attempts which Wojtowicz attributed to Eden s despondency over her inability to afford gender reassignment surgery Eden was admitted to a psychiatric institution 3 The following year on August 22 1972 Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank branch in Gravesend Brooklyn He claimed that he attempted the robbery in order to obtain funds so that Eden could have surgery However the claim was disputed by some with Arthur Bell a respected Village Voice columnist and investigative journalist who knew Wojtowicz stating that the robbery was due to Wojtowicz s debts to the Mafia 4 Wojtowicz had also previously expressed opposition to Eden s desire to undergo surgery 4 Eden was not aware of the plan Wojtowicz was sentenced to 20 years but released in 1978 Wojtowicz did two more stretches in prison for parole violations in 1984 and 1986 87 He said he was released in April 1987 and Eden visited him in New York about once a month 3 The film Dog Day Afternoon shows Sonny the Wojtowicz character making out a will to give Leon Eden s character his life insurance so that even if he were killed Leon could pay for the operation The real life Wojtowicz was paid 7500 plus 1 of the film s net profits for the rights to his story from which he gave Eden enough money to pay for the surgery 1 Later life Edit Following her gender affirming surgery Eden legally married someone else then divorced 3 Eden died of AIDS related pneumonia on September 29 1987 aged 41 at Genesee Hospital in Rochester New York 3 Legacy EditHer personal papers and photographs were donated posthumously to the National Archive of Lesbian Gay Bisexual amp Transgender History at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual amp Transgender Community Center New York on June 14 1990 5 After her death she was one of the characters in the Drunk History episode Love telling the story of her and Wojtowicz s romance and the robbery that followed it she was portrayed by trans actress Trace Lysette References Edit a b c Elizabeth Eden Transsexual Who Figured in Movie The New York Times October 1 1987 Archived from the original on May 14 2009 Retrieved May 4 2018 Photos Lisa 2003 The Dog and the Last Real Man Journal of Bisexuality 3 2 43 68 doi 10 1300 J159v03n02 04 S2CID 146591289 a b c d e f Ernest Aron Became Elizabeth Eden AIDS Kills Woman Behind Dog Day Los Angeles Times Associated Press September 30 1987 Archived from the original on March 31 2019 Retrieved December 21 2013 a b c d Hoad J N April 2 2022 Who Was Elizabeth Eden Tribune Retrieved April 9 2022 Liz Eden Papers Lesbian Gay Bisexual amp Transgender Center 1986 Archived from the original on December 17 2003 Retrieved August 8 2009 External links EditLiz Eden Ernest Aron Papers Archived September 18 2008 at the Wayback Machine via LGBT Community Center New York Liz Debbie Eden at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elizabeth Eden amp oldid 1169796060, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
