Editing Harlan Ellison (section)

==Biography==
===Early life and career===
[[File:Amazing stories 195703.jpg|thumb|right|Ellison's 1957 novella "The Savage Swarm", cover-featured in ''[[Amazing Stories]]'', has never been included in an authorized collection or anthology.]]
[[File:Amazing stories 195706.jpg|thumb|right|A few months later, another Ellison novella, "The Steel Napoleon", also took the cover of ''Amazing''. It also remains uncollected.]] [[File:Fantastic 195705.jpg|thumb|right|Another uncollected Ellison novella, "Satan Is My Ally", was the cover story on the May 1957 issue of ''[[Fantastic Science Fiction]]''.]]
[[File:Fantastic 195711.jpg|thumb|right|Ellison wrote "The Wife Factory" for ''Fantastic'' under the [[Pen name#Collective names|house name]] "Clyde Mitchell". It appeared in the November 1957 issue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?712313 | title=The Internet Speculative Fiction Database | access-date=June 29, 2024 }}</ref> The novella has never been republished.]]
[[File:Fantastic 195810.jpg|thumb|right|Ellison's "Suicide World", the cover story for the October 1958 ''Fantastic'', also remains uncollected.]]
[[File:Fantastic 195904.jpg|thumb|right|Ellison's "The Abnormals", the cover story for the April 1959 ''Fantastic'', appears in Ellison collections as "[[The Discarded]]".]]
Ellison was born to a Jewish family<ref>[http://www.jewishjournal.com/geekheeb/item/top_5_jewish_moments_in_trek_20090507/ ''Jewish Journal'': "Top 5 Jewish moments in 'Trek'" by Adam Wills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009175458/http://www.jewishjournal.com/geekheeb/item/top_5_jewish_moments_in_trek_20090507 |date=October 9, 2016 }} May 7, 2009</ref> in [[Cleveland]], Ohio, on May 27, 1934, the son of Serita (née Rosenthal) and Louis Laverne Ellison, a dentist and jeweler.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Weil |first1=Ellen |title=Harlan Ellison: The Edge of Forever |last2=Wolfe |first2=Gary K. |publisher=Ohio State University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-8142-0892-2 |location=Columbus, Ohio |page=23 |ref=Weil}}</ref><ref>*{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3nPYfqEbfrsC&q=Serita+Rosenthal+Louis+Laverne+Ellison&pg=PA889|title=Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Volume 2|publisher=Wildside Press LLC|date=2010|isbn=9780941028783|access-date=November 11, 2020|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605010603/https://books.google.com/books?id=3nPYfqEbfrsC&q=Serita+Rosenthal+Louis+Laverne+Ellison&pg=PA889|url-status=live}}</ref> He had an older sister, Beverly (Rabnick), who was born in 1926. She died in 2010 without having spoken to him since their mother's funeral in 1976. Some time after Beverly's birth, his family moved to [[Painesville, Ohio|Painesville]], Ohio, but returned to Cleveland in 1949, following his father's death. Ellison frequently ran away from home (in an interview with [[Tom Snyder]] he would later claim it was due to discrimination by his high school peers), taking an array of odd jobs—including, by age 18, "tuna fisherman off the coast of [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], itinerant crop-picker down in New Orleans, hired gun for a wealthy neurotic, [[nitroglycerine]] truck driver in [[North Carolina]], [[wikt:short order|short-order]] cook, cab driver, [[lithographer]], book salesman, [[wikt:floor-walker|floorwalker]] in a department store, door-to-door brush salesman, and as a youngster, an actor in several productions at the [[Cleveland Play House]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ellison |first=Harlan |url=http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-mouthmustscream/bio.html |title=Harlan Ellison's "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream": A Study Guide from Gale's "Short Stories for Students" |date=July 23, 2002 |publisher=The Gale Group |page=27 |access-date=January 4, 2007 |archive-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020113212/http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-mouthmustscream/bio.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1947, a fan letter he wrote to ''[[Real Fact Comics]]'' became his first published writing.<ref name="OSPG">{{Cite book |last=Overstreet |first=Robert M. |title=Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, 41st edition |title-link=Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide |date=2011–2012 |publisher=[[Gemstone Publishing]] |isbn=9781603601337 |location=[[Timonium, Maryland]] |page=808}}</ref>

Ellison attended [[Ohio State University]] for 18 months (1951–53) before being expelled. He said the expulsion was for hitting a professor, a certain Dr. Shedd, who had denigrated his writing ability. Over the next 20 or so years he sent that professor a copy of every story that he published.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Levy |first=Michael |date=November 2002 |title=Books in Review, "Of Stories and the Man." |url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/birs/bir88.htm |journal=Science Fiction Studies |volume=29 |issue=Part 3 |access-date=January 4, 2007 |archive-date=January 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113223223/http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/birs/bir88.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ellison published two serialized stories in the ''[[Cleveland News]]'' during 1949,<ref name=isfdb /> and he sold a story to [[EC Comics]] early in the 1950s. During this period, Ellison was an active and visible member of [[science fiction fandom]], and published his own [[science fiction fanzines]], such as ''Dimensions'' (which had previously been the ''Bulletin of the Cleveland Science Fantasy Society'' for the Cleveland Science Fantasy Society, and later ''Science Fantasy Bulletin''.<ref>''Dimensions'' issue #14 (May–July 1954)</ref>)

Ellison moved to New York City in 1955 to pursue a writing career, primarily in science fiction. Over the next two years, he published more than 100 short stories and articles. The short stories collected as ''Sex Gang'' — which Ellison described in a 2012 interview as "mainstream [[erotica]]"<ref name="larecord">{{Cite web|url=https://larecord.com/interviews/2012/09/24/harlan-ellison-everything-is-awful|title=HARLAN ELLISON: EVERYTHING IS AWFUL|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211220627/https://larecord.com/interviews/2012/09/24/harlan-ellison-everything-is-awful|url-status=live}}</ref> — date from this period.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.islets.net:80/collections/sexgang.html |title=Ellison / Sex Gang |date=January 6, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106122233/http://www.islets.net/collections/sexgang.html |archive-date=January 6, 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2019 }}</ref>

He served in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] from 1957 to 1959.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harlan-Ellison|title=Harlan Ellison &#124; Biography, Books, TV Shows, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403190321/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harlan-Ellison|url-status=live}}</ref> His first novel, ''[[Web of the City]]'', was published during his military service in 1958, and he said that he had written the bulk of it while undergoing basic training at [[Fort Benning, Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ellison |first=Harlan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2G_BgAAQBAJ |title=Web of the City |date=2013 |publisher=Titan Books |isbn=9781781164211 |page=iv |access-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803081834/https://books.google.com/books?id=H2G_BgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> He served in the Public Information Office at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky, where he wrote articles and reviews for the post's weekly newspaper.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/29/harlan-ellison-obituary | title=Harlan Ellison obituary | newspaper=The Guardian | date=June 29, 2018 | last1=Holland | first1=Steve }}</ref>

After leaving the army, he relocated to Chicago, where he edited ''[[Rogue (magazine)|Rogue]]'' magazine.<ref name="Locus062018">{{Cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2018/06/harlan-ellison-1934-2018/ |title=Harlan Ellison (1934-2018) |last=<!--Not stated--> |date=June 28, 2018 |website=[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]] |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234128/http://locusmag.com/2018/06/harlan-ellison-1934-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Hollywood and beyond===
[[File:Sfcon-ellison-talk-ddb.jpg|thumb|Ellison speaking at an SF convention, 2006]]
Ellison moved to California in 1962 and began selling his writing to Hollywood. Ellison sold scripts to many television shows:  ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' (4 episodes), ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]],'' ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'',<ref name="TheFuturist">Keegan, Rebecca (October 5, 2010). ''The Futurist: The Life and Times of James Cameron'', Three Rivers Press (Kindle location 885)</ref> ''[[The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'' (2 episodes), ''[[Cimarron Strip]]'' and ''[[The Flying Nun]]''.

Ellison's screenplay for the ''Star Trek'' episode "[[The City on the Edge of Forever]]" is often considered the best of the 79 episodes in the series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/article/original-city-on-the-edge-of-forever-teleplay-set-for-miniseries |title=Original "City on the Edge of Forever" Teleplay Set for Miniseries |last=Staff writers |date=March 6, 2014 |website=StarTrek.com |access-date=June 29, 2018 |quote=Harlan Ellison wrote what is widely considered the best episode ever of ''Star Trek: The Original Series''. |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211647/http://www.startrek.com/article/original-city-on-the-edge-of-forever-teleplay-set-for-miniseries |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirk |first=John |date=July 2, 2018 |title=Star Trek Comic Collaborators Remember Harlan Ellison |url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2018/07/star-trek-comic-collaborators-remember-harlan-ellison/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TrekCore.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

He co-wrote the screenplay for ''[[The Oscar (film)|The Oscar]]'' (1966), starring [[Stephen Boyd]] and [[Tony Bennett]].

In 1965, he participated in the second and third [[Selma to Montgomery marches]], led by [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref name="sduniontrib">{{Cite news |last=Salm |first=Arthur |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20050320-9999-1a20harlan.html |title=Dangerous visions |date=March 20, 2005 |work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]] |access-date=September 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331061227/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20050320-9999-1a20harlan.html |archive-date=March 31, 2005}}</ref>

In 1966, in an article that ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' magazine later named as the best magazine piece ever written, the journalist [[Gay Talese]] wrote a profile of [[Frank Sinatra]]. The article, entitled "[[Frank Sinatra Has a Cold]]", briefly describes a verbal clash between Sinatra and Ellison, in which the crooner took exception to Ellison's boots during a billiards game Ellison was playing with Omar Sharif, Leo Durocher and Peter Falk.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Frank Sinatra Has a Cold – Gay Talese – Best Profile of Sinatra |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1003-OCT_SINATRA_rev_ |magazine=Esquire |access-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-date=February 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228234649/http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1003-OCT_SINATRA_rev_ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ellison was hired as a writer for [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Studios]], but was fired on his first day after [[Roy O. Disney]] overheard him in the studio commissary joking about making a pornographic animated film featuring Disney characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://harlanellison.com/iwrite/mostimp.htm|title=3. Labor Relations|last=Ellison|first=Harlan|year=1978|website=The 3 Most Important Things in Life|publisher=Kilamajaro Corporation|access-date=March 12, 2014|archive-date=January 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130194741/http://harlanellison.com/iwrite/mostimp.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/18/harlan-ellison-calls-saving-mr-banks-a-disney-fraud-in-video-rant/|title=Harlan Ellison calls 'Saving Mr. Banks' a Disney fraud in video rant|last=Ortega|first=Tony|date=December 18, 2013|website=The Raw Story|access-date=March 12, 2014|archive-date=December 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223080251/http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/18/harlan-ellison-calls-saving-mr-banks-a-disney-fraud-in-video-rant/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ellison continued to publish short fiction and nonfiction pieces in various publications, including some of his best known stories. "[["Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman|'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman]]" (1965) is a celebration of civil disobedience against repressive authority. "[[I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream]]" (1967) is a story where five humans are tormented by an all-knowing computer throughout eternity. The story was the basis of a 1995 [[I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream (video game)|computer game]]; Ellison participated in the game's design and provided the voice of the god-computer AM.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/01/14/classic-gi-i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream.aspx|title=Classic GI: I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream|first=Jeff|last=Cork|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629235737/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/01/14/classic-gi-i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Another story, "[[A Boy and His Dog]]", examines the nature of friendship and love in a violent, [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fiction|post-apocalyptic]] world and was made into the 1975 [[A Boy and His Dog (1975 film)|film of the same name]], starring [[Don Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/55518-A-BOY-AND-HIS-DOG?sid=2b5e56ce-720b-4fc3-9fde-efcbb65c8b06&sr=5.6351666&cp=1&pos=0 |title=AFI Catalog of Feature Films: A Boy and His Dog |website=AFI.com |publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801123546/http://catalog.afi.com/Film/55518-A-BOY-AND-HIS-DOG?sid=2b5e56ce-720b-4fc3-9fde-efcbb65c8b06&sr=5.6351666&cp=1&pos=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1967, Ellison edited the ''[[Dangerous Visions]]'' collection, which attracted "special citation at the 26th World SF Convention for editing 'the most significant and controversial SF book published in 1967.'" In his introduction [[Isaac Asimov]] described it epitomising a "second revolution" in Science Fiction as "science receded and modern fictional techniques came to the fore." 

From 1968 to 1970, Ellison wrote a regular column on television for the ''[[Los Angeles Free Press]]''. Titled "The Glass Teat", Ellison's column examined television's impact on the politics and culture of the time, including its presentations of sex, politics, race, the Vietnam War, and violence. The essays were collected in two anthologies, ''[[The Glass Teat|The Glass Teat: Essays of Opinion on Television]]''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellison |first1=Harlan |title=The Glass Teat |date=1983 |orig-date=1970 |publisher=Ace |isbn=9780441289882 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/453228.The_Glass_Teat |access-date=June 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220060548/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/453228.The_Glass_Teat |url-status=live }}</ref> followed by ''The Other Glass Teat''.

Ellison served as creative consultant to the [[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|1980s version]] of ''The Twilight Zone'' science fiction TV series and ''[[Babylon 5]]''. As a member of the [[Screen Actors Guild]] (SAG), he had voice-over credits for shows, including ''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]'', ''[[Mother Goose and Grimm#Television show|Mother Goose and Grimm]]'', ''[[Space Cases]]'', ''[[Phantom 2040]]'', and ''Babylon 5'', as well as making an onscreen appearance in the ''Babylon 5'' episode "[[The Face of the Enemy (Babylon 5)|The Face of the Enemy".]]

A frequent guest on the Los Angeles science fiction/fantasy culture radio show ''[[Hour 25]],'' hosted by [[Mike Hodel]], Ellison took over as host when Hodel died.  Ellison's tenure was from May 1986 to June 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hour25online.com/Hour25_Welcome.html|title = Hour 25 - Welcome}}</ref>

Ellison's short story "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" (1992) was selected for inclusion in the 1993 edition of ''[[The Best American Short Stories]]''.<ref>Kennison, Katrina and Erdrich, Louise (editors), ''The Best American Short Stories 1993'', New York, 1993.</ref>

Ellison as an audio actor/reader was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children]]<ref>[http://www.lewiscarroll.org/2010/02/06/harlan-ellisons-reading-of-through-the-looking-glass-nominated-for-grammy/ "Harlan Ellison's reading of Through the Looking-Glass nominated for Grammy"]. ''Lewis Caroll Society''.</ref> twice and has won several [[Audie Awards]].<ref>[http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/authors/harlan-ellison/ "Talking with Harlan Ellison"]. ''Audiofile Magazine''.</ref>

In 2014, Ellison made a guest appearance on the album ''Finding Love in Hell'' by the [[stoner rock]] band Leaving Babylon, reading his piece "The Silence" (originally published in ''[[Mind Fields]]'') as an introduction to the song "Dead to Me."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=862491530432253&set=pb.512974005384009.-2207520000.1405998586.&type=1&theater |title=Leaving Babylon – Leaving Babylon's Photos |publisher=Facebook |access-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308211645/https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=862491530432253&set=pb.512974005384009.-2207520000.1405998586.&type=1&theater |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ellison's official website, harlanellison.com, was launched in 1995 as a fan page;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://harlanellison.com/interview.htm |title=Webderland HE Interview |last=Wyatt |first=Rick |website=Ellison Webderland |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308110553/http://www.harlanellison.com/interview.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> for several years, Ellison was a regular poster in its discussion forum.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://harlanellison.com/heboard/unca.php |title=Harlan Ellison's Art Deco Dining Pavilion |website=Ellison Webderland |access-date=June 29, 2018 |quote="This is Harlan's little breakfast nook at Webderland. When he's not here, we chat about him and his work. When he is, we act like we're guests in his home." |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628221723/http://harlanellison.com/heboard/unca.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ellison's voice is one of 80 used in the NPRmageddon podcast (which is unrelated to National Public Radio), which appeared after his death.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://laist.com/news/los-angeles-activities/why-the-creators-of-nprmageddons-dystopian-lost-angeles-see-reporters-as-heroic |title=The Thrill Of Being NPRmageddoned And Why The Podcast By The Same Name Is Exploring Dystopian 'Lost Angeles' |date=March 17, 2023 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |quote="Over the 10 episodes, you’ll hear some 80 voices, several of them familiar. Showing how long it's been in the works, the show features the late actor Fred Willard, who died in 2020, and sci-fi author Harlan Ellison, who died in 2018." }}</ref>

===Personal life and death===
Ellison married five times; each relationship ended within a few years, except the last. His first wife was Charlotte Stein, whom he married in 1956. They divorced in 1960, and he later described the marriage as "four years of hell as sustained as the whine of a generator."<ref>''Gentleman Junkie'', 14</ref> Later that year he married Billie Joyce Sanders; they divorced in 1963.  His 1966 marriage to Loretta Patrick lasted only seven weeks.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Weil |first1=Ellen |title=Harlan Ellison: The Edge of Forever |last2=Wolfe |first2=Gary K. |publisher=Ohio State University Press |year=2002 |page=44}}</ref> In 1976, he married Lori Horowitz. He was 41 and she was 19, and he later said of the marriage, "I was desperately in love with her, but it was a stupid marriage on my part." They were divorced after eight months.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMurran |first=Kristen |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20092332,00.html |title=Harlan Ellison |date=December 2, 1985 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=May 28, 2011 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110192214/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20092332,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He briefly had a relationship with actress [[Grace Lee Whitney]], allegedly ending it when he caught her smoking [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] in his house.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Whitney|first1=Grace Lee|last2=Denney|first2=Jim|pages=115–116|title=The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy|publisher=Quill Driver Books|edition=2|year=2007|isbn=978-1884956034}}</ref> He and Susan Toth married in 1986, and they remained together, living in the [[Lost Aztec Temple of Mars]] in [[Sherman Oaks]], until his death 32 years later. Susan died in August 2020, age 60.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.harlanellisonbooks.com/susan-ellison-1960-2020/ |title=Susan Ellison (1960–2020) |website=HarlanEllisonBooks.com |date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807031651/https://www.harlanellisonbooks.com/susan-ellison-1960-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ellison described himself as a [[Jewish atheism|Jewish atheist]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://medium.com/@damiengwalter/harlan-ellison-the-interview-e6f5d260fbc1 |title=Harlan Ellison : The Interview – Damien Walter – Medium |last=Harlan |first=Ellison |date=October 30, 2017 |website=Medium |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903073214/https://medium.com/@damiengwalter/harlan-ellison-the-interview-e6f5d260fbc1 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/obituaries/harlan-ellison-intensely-prolific-science-fiction-writer-dies-at-84.html |title=Sandomir, R. (2018, June 29). Harlan Ellison Dies at 84; Prolific, Irascible (Science) Fiction Writer. Retrieved from |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 29, 2018 |access-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512113600/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/obituaries/harlan-ellison-intensely-prolific-science-fiction-writer-dies-at-84.html |url-status=live |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard }}</ref>

In 1994, he had a heart attack and was hospitalized for quadruple [[coronary artery bypass surgery]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://harlanellison.com/buzz/bw175h.htm |title=Harlan Ellison Webderland: Sci-Fi Buzz Archive |website=harlanellison.com |access-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202033/http://www.harlanellison.com/buzz/bw175h.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2010, he received treatment for [[Major depressive disorder|clinical depression]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/08/25/harlan_ellison_life_to_me_is_a_great_ironic_joke/ |title=Harlan Ellison: "Life to me is a great ironic joke" |last=Barsotti |first=Mark |date=August 25, 2013 |website=Salon |access-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231153919/http://www.salon.com/2013/08/25/harlan_ellison_life_to_me_is_a_great_ironic_joke/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2007, Ellison attended the Midwestern debut of the documentary about his life, ''[[Dreams with Sharp Teeth]]'', at the [[Cleveland Public Library]] in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. This would be Ellison's last public appearance in his hometown.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2018/06/harlan_ellison_fiery_and_brilliant_writer_from_cleveland_dead_at_84.html |title=Harlan Ellison, fiery and brilliant writer from Cleveland, dead at 84 |date=June 28, 2018 |work=The Plain Dealer |access-date=June 29, 2018 |location=Cleveland, Ohio |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628223142/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2018/06/harlan_ellison_fiery_and_brilliant_writer_from_cleveland_dead_at_84.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20070917.shtml |title=Tony's Online Tips |last=Isabella |first=Tony |date=September 17, 2007 |website=World Famous Comics |access-date=June 29, 2018 |quote=I have a busy social calendar in the remaining weeks of this month. On Friday, September 21, my dear friends Harlan and Susan Ellison will be in Cleveland for A Tribute to Harlan Ellison at the main library of the Cleveland Public Library: Join us in the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed with a Midwestern debut screening of Dreams With Sharp Teeth, a documentary on the writer and native Clevelander, Harlan Ellison. Screening will be followed by special guests with a special appearance by Harlan Ellison. |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211214/http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20070917.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2023 |title=Harlan Ellison in Cleveland, 2007 |url=https://ohiocenterforthebook.org/2023/05/27/harlan-ellison-in-cleveland-2007/ |access-date=September 11, 2024 |website=Ohio Center for the Book}}</ref>

On about October 10, 2014, Ellison had a stroke.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/10/harlan-ellison-recovering-in-hospital-following-stroke/ |title=Harlan Ellison recovering in hospital following stroke |date=October 14, 2014 |work=Comic Book Resources |access-date=October 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015024329/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/10/harlan-ellison-recovering-in-hospital-following-stroke/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although his speech and cognition were unimpaired, he suffered [[paralysis]] on his right side, for which he was expected to spend several weeks in physical therapy before being released from the hospital.<ref>*{{cite news|last=Kellogg|first=Carolyn|date=October 14, 2014|url=http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-harlan-ellison-stroke-20141014-story.html|title=Harlan Ellison in the hospital recovering from a stroke|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-date=November 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102235433/http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-harlan-ellison-stroke-20141014-story.html|url-status=live}}
*{{cite news|last=Kaye|first=Don|date=October 13, 2014|url=http://www.blastr.com/2014-10-13/sci-fi-legend-harlan-ellison-recovering-stroke|title=Sci-fi legend Harlan Ellison recovering from stroke|work=[[Blastr]]|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-date=November 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113061230/http://www.blastr.com/2014-10-13/sci-fi-legend-harlan-ellison-recovering-stroke|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ellison died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on the morning of June 28, 2018.<ref>*{{Cite news|url=http://locusmag.com/2018/06/harlan-ellison-1934-2018/|title=Harlan Ellison (1934–2018)|date=June 28, 2018|work=[[Locus Online]]|access-date=June 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512153248/http://locusmag.com/2018/06/harlan-ellison-1934-2018/|url-status=live}}
*{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/06/28/us/ap-us-obit-harlan-ellison.html|title=Harlan Ellison, Science Fiction Master, Dies at Age 84|agency=Associated Press|date=June 28, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 28, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022016/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/06/28/us/ap-us-obit-harlan-ellison.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LAO">{{Cite news |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-harlan-ellison-20180628-story.html |title=Harlan Ellison dies at 84; acclaimed science fiction writer was known for combative style |date=June 28, 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605010552/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-harlan-ellison-20180628-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His [[literary estate]] is currently executed by ''[[Babylon 5]]'' creator [[J. Michael Straczynski]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/syntheticworlds|title=J. Michael Straczynski is creating Movies, TV series, Videos and Audio dramas via Synthetic Worlds|website=Patreon|access-date=May 15, 2021|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424211105/https://www.patreon.com/syntheticworlds|url-status=live}}</ref>