The Black Pope

October 29, 1997 - Anton LaVey died on this day. He was the founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan.

As a teenager he had dropped out of high school to join the circus. He would eventually make a living as an organist with a steady gig in a San Francisco lounge.

LaVey also claimed to be a paranormal investigator who worked with the San Francisco police to crack unsolved cases. This part of his biography has never been confirmed.

It wasn't until he was in his thirties that he launched the Church of Satan. By this time, LaVey had attracted a sizable cult following. He performed spooky weddings and funerals, and he threw some famously wild parties.

He died just a couple of days before Halloween. Cause of death was pulmonary edema, a build-up of liquid in the lungs.