On July 3, 1971, 27-year-old The Doors frontman Jim Morrison was found dead in a bathtub in an apartment in Paris, France. No autopsy was performed, and the official cause of death listed was heart failure with speculation that it was a result of a drug overdose.
A new documentary on Apple TV+, however, is challenging that story and instead suggests that Morrison may have faked his death. Titled “Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison” the three-part series offers a new theory: that Morrison is alive and living in Syracuse, NY.
The series’ writer, director, and researcher Jeff Finn points to a man simply known as “Frank” or “Frank X” – a maintenance man in Syracuse – as possibly being Morrison.
The documentary suggests that Morrison met a man named Frank in Syracuse and took over his identity.
Finn – a self described “superfan of Morrison and The Doors” – says he’s spent 39 years researching the legendary rocker.
As evidence for his theory, Finn points to a scar on “Frank’s” nose that is in the same place as a mole Morrison had. He also claims that he showed two of Morrison’s ex-girlfriends a picture of “Frank” and they allegedly burst into tears because of the resemblance.
“Before the End” includes an interview with “Frank” where he apparently gives ambiguous answers to questions about his identity.
While it’s a fun theory to consider, not everybody is convinced of the “proof” provided in the doc.
“These kinds of documentaries can be so convincing but usually have lots of issues,” Syracuse University media studies professor Robert Thompson said regarding the series. “I’ve seen 10 people in the last 2 days that look pretty much like Frank X….and therefore, I guess, what Morrison would look like as an old guy.”
