Jonathan Larson was an American writer, composer, and lyricist, who wrote the hit Broadway musical Rent. The play focuses on the struggles of young artists in New York City. The musical was a huge success and earned three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score. It also won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The playwright died of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, just days before the show’s opening night on Broadway.

According to an autopsy report, Larson’s death was due to a tear in the aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to all other organs. The tear was believed to have been caused by an undiagnosed Marfan’s syndrome, a congenital condition that affects connective tissue and weakens the walls of the aorta.

The aorta is the largest and thickest artery in the body, and it stretches from the base of the skull to the abdomen. It is about 20 inches in diameter, and a ruptured aorta can be fatal.

Larson was born on February 4, 1960, in White Plains, New York. He was the son of Nanette and Allan Larson. His family was Jewish, and his grandfather changed the family surname from Lazarson to Larson. He attended White Plains High School, where he performed in several theatre productions.

After graduating from high school, he went to Adelphi University in Garden City, New York on a full scholarship as an acting major. During his time at Adelphi, he worked as a bartender and wrote for several local theater productions. He wrote his first musical, Sacrimmoralinority, with David Glenn Armstrong, which was performed at his college in the winter of 1981.