Outlaws & Criminals · 19th Century
Doc Holliday’s Last Words
“This is funny.”— Doc Holliday, November 8, 1887
Who Was Doc Holliday?
Doc Holliday was a dentist turned gambler and gunfighter who became famous as Wyatt Earp's friend and ally at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He suffered from tuberculosis his entire adult life.
The Final Moments
Holliday spent his final days in a sanitarium in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. His last words expressed wry amusement — he had always expected to die with his boots on from a gunfight, not in bed from disease.
Are These Words Verified?
Staff at the Hotel Glenwood sanitarium reported these words, which appeared in local newspaper accounts shortly after his death. While credible, some details of Holliday's final days remain murky.
Sources
- firsthand Sanitarium staff accounts
- newspaper Glenwood Springs newspaper, November 1887
- biography Gary L. Roberts, Doc Holliday: The Life and Legend (2006)
Legacy
Doc Holliday became one of the most romanticized figures of the Wild West. Val Kilmer's portrayal in Tombstone gave him a new generation of admirers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Doc Holliday’s last words?
“This is funny.”
How did Doc Holliday die?
Doc Holliday died on November 8, 1887 at the age of 36. Cause of death: Tuberculosis.
Were Doc Holliday’s last words documented?
Staff at the Hotel Glenwood sanitarium reported these words, which appeared in local newspaper accounts shortly after his death. While credible, some details of Holliday's final days remain murky.
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