Vale Spalding Gray...

Tim(e) · Post by **Tim(e)** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:40 pm

Actor and storyteller Spalding Gray, best known for writing and starring in the autobiographical film monologue, Swimming to Cambodia, was confirmed dead today after going missing for nearly two months.

The body of 62-year-old Gray was pulled out of the East River off Brooklyn yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/ ... 39819.html

Misha · Post by **Misha** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:20 pm

This has broken my heart.

I really liked Spaulding..

I saw him just last year..or the year before, can't remember.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 10:56 am

Surely a suicide. Sad. I didn't like his writing but he was a funny actor, poor guy.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:58 am

I really enjoyed "Swimming to Cambodia" and he was a wonderful comic actor.

Sad.

A rope leash · Post by **A rope leash** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:54 am

You know, Spalding Gray always seemed so confident to me. Maybe a little nervous or unsure, but basically confident.

I wonder what sent him over the edge...

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:48 am

Depression and outer confidence have no relation to each other.

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:54 am

Indeed.
Spalding once appeared on the usually verbally verbose Dave Fanning radio show once, and just went on and on for 2 hours. Dave couldn't get a word in, no mean feat on Spalding's part. Good obit. in today's Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/st ... 30,00.html

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:35 pm

Better late than never. Saw this piece in last sunday's Observer and meant to add it on then. World events proved distracting. Here it is now.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0, ... 48,00.html

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:41 pm

Thanks for posting that, it's a well-done piece.

His life and death scare me, it's just all so close to the bone, and though I think he was very smart, I don't think much of his art. I feel horrible for the pain he underwent. It's funny how many people say suicide is selfish (and it is, but that misses the point) but think of his art as something given less selfishly. I think his monologues and writing were disturbingly narcissitic, and that that's what people liked about it as art. To pretend his death wasn't the likely outcome seems oblivious or disingenuous... the 'creative suicide' was watching him die a slow death onstage or in his written words, nothing to do with ferries or literal (as opposed to literary) waters.

Ugh. I am so sorry for him and his family, the whole thing scares the bejesus outta me.

Misha · Post by **Misha** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 6:29 pm

The last time I saw him, my friend and I were wondering how much longer he might be around. He was doing Morning, Noon and Night and he was bad. I mean really bad. He seemed to be worse for doing the piece. And what was worse was that you could see that he was underneath that mess of depression in there and just couldn't get out. His art suffered for it as did his life and his family. We left feeling horribly melancholy.

I liked his writing most of all. It was narcissistic, but enjoyable, especially when he performed it.

Sadly, depression killed him in the end. But, thankfully, his family can now put an end to it affecting them. I'll miss him....but I am glad he isn't suffering any more.