Spalding Gray's body found. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Reese · 03-08-2004, 01:34 PM

Quote:

(New York-WABC, March 8, 2004) — The New York City medical examiner's office has confirmed that the body pulled out of East River Sunday is that of missing actor-writer Spalding Gray. Gray disappeared on January 10th. He was 62-years-old.

Several reliable witnesses told authorities they believed they saw him on the Staten Island Ferry the night he vanished. He had a history of suicide attempts.

Authorities said early Monday that the body found in the East River was too badly decomposed to identify easily. Police reportedly could only say at first that the deceased was a white man.

The only piece of clothing that could be identified was a pair of black corduroy pants. When Gray disappeared January 10th, he was wearing black corduroy pants, a gray jacket, blue scarf, brown sweater and brown shoes. He was identified through dental records and x-rays.

Gray laid bare his life and mingled performance art with comedy in acclaimed monologues like "Swimming to Cambodia" and "It's a Slippery Slope."

His riveting live performances generally featured only a desk and a glass of water as props. Usually wearing his trademark plaid flannel shirt, the performer would never move from the desk as he read in a soft, New England accent. In more than a dozen monologues starting in 1979, Gray told audiences about his childhood, "Sex and Death to the Age 14"; his adventures as a young man, "Booze, Cars and College Girls"; and his struggles as an actor, "A Personal History of the American Theater." Many were published in book form and several were made into films.

"The man may be the ultimate WASP neurotic, analyzing his actions with an intensity that would be unpleasantly egomaniacal if it weren't so self-deprecatingly funny," Associated Press Drama Critic Michael Kuchwara wrote in 1996. "He questions everything and ends up more exhausted than satisfied."

The cause of his death was still under investigation, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner. But Gray was known to have been deeply troubled and had attempted suicide before.

Throughout his disappearance, his wife, Kathleen Russo, had held out scant hope that he might still be alive. "Everyone that looks like him from behind, I go up and check to make sure it's not him," Russo said in a phone interview with The Associated Press about a week ago. "If someone calls and hangs up, I always do star-69. You're always thinking, 'maybe."'

It's sad, I enjoyed his commentary in Gray's Anatomy, He was a great story teller.

Cynthetiq · 03-08-2004, 01:38 PM

damn... that's the river that I overlook from my apartment.

may he rest in peace

water_boy1999 · 03-08-2004, 01:39 PM

It is truly sad to lose a literary mind like this.

anleja · 03-08-2004, 05:16 PM

I remember him most from being in the David Byrne movie "True Stories." I don't know much about his writing, but I think I'll check it out.

jbrooks544 · 03-08-2004, 07:37 PM

Very sad.

I was a fan, of sorts. I really liked his work and I would strongly recommend any and all of it to anyone who hasn't seen or read him.

I saw many of his monologues on video - all very good. Swimming to Cambodia my first.

I read at least two books - impossible vacation and gray's anatomy - both excellent.

I saw him do gray's anatomy live in a small theatre - awesome!

I've seen him and heard him on tv and radio interviews many times - always very interesting.

This is a very sad day, but it was sort of inevitable, as he has stated and written many times about suicide and how it runs in his family, etc. sad.

Astrocloud · 03-08-2004, 08:02 PM

Damn, that sucks.

Charlatan · 03-10-2004, 06:30 AM

I've been expecting this news since he disappeared.

I love to tell stories and wish I could be even half as good as he is at telling them.

It is a loss to be sure.

03-08-2004, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	damn... that's the river that I overlook from my apartment. may he rest in peace __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-08-2004, 01:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	It is truly sad to lose a literary mind like this. __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

03-10-2004, 06:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I've been expecting this news since he disappeared. I love to tell stories and wish I could be even half as good as he is at telling them. It is a loss to be sure. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

03-08-2004, 05:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
anleja disconnected Location: ignoreland	I remember him most from being in the David Byrne movie "True Stories." I don't know much about his writing, but I think I'll check it out.

03-08-2004, 07:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
jbrooks544 Addict	Very sad. I was a fan, of sorts. I really liked his work and I would strongly recommend any and all of it to anyone who hasn't seen or read him. I saw many of his monologues on video - all very good. Swimming to Cambodia my first. I read at least two books - impossible vacation and gray's anatomy - both excellent. I saw him do gray's anatomy live in a small theatre - awesome! I've seen him and heard him on tv and radio interviews many times - always very interesting. This is a very sad day, but it was sort of inevitable, as he has stated and written many times about suicide and how it runs in his family, etc. sad.

03-08-2004, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	Damn, that sucks.