On July 31 , 2012 Vidal died of pneumonia at his home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 86 .
In 2010 Vidal began to suffer from Wernicke -- Korsakoff syndrome , a brain disorder often caused by alcoholism .
On July 31 , 2012 Vidal died of pneumonia at Vidal 's home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 86 .
In 2010 Vidal began to suffer from Wernicke -- Korsakoff syndrome , a brain disorder often caused by alcoholism .