An overview of the epidemiology, biology, psychopathology & medical concomitants of late-life suicide is presented. Innovative prevention strategies are briefly summarized. It is concluded that further investigation is needed in several areas: the neurobiology of aging, affective disorders, & suicide; the complex interactions between somatic & psychiatric illnesses; personality traits that may confer vulnerability to suicide; & age-related variations in Axis I psychopathology in suicide victims.