Spalding Rockwell Gray (1941–2004)
Author of Swimming to Cambodia
About the Author
Actor and performer Spalding Gray is the author of It's a Slippery Slope (Noonday, 1997), Swimming to Cambodia, and Monster in a Box, among other works. He has appeared on PBS and HBO, and in numerous films. He lives with his family in Sag Harbor, New York. (Bowker Author Biography)
Works by Spalding Rockwell Gray
PAJ #16 1 copy
Associated Works
Take My Advice: Letters to the Next Generation from People Who Know a Thing or Two (2002) — Contributor — 44 copies
A Lifetime of Wisdom: Essential Writings By and About the Dalai Lama (2002) — Contributor — 23 copies
Performing Arts Journal: 16 (Volume VI / Number 1) — Contributor — 1 copy
Performing Arts Journal: 13 (Volume V / Number 1) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Gray, Spalding Rockwell
- Other names
- Victor Alexander
- Birthdate
- 1941-06-05
- Date of death
- 2004-01-10
- Burial location
- Oakland Cemetery, Sag Harbor, New York, USA
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA (birth)
- Birthplace
- Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
- Cause of death
- suicide
- Education
- Emerson College (BA)
- Occupations
- writer
actor - Relationships
- Renee Shafransky (former spouse)
Kathie Russo (spouse)
Channing Gray (brother)
Rockwell Gray (brother) - Organizations
- Wooster Group (1969)
- Awards and honors
- Guggenheim fellowship (1985)
artist in residence at Mark Taper Forum LA (1986-87)
Members
Reviews
Not sure how to rate it, but I finished the book in one sitting—so I guess that's a good sign.
I hate how Spalding's life ended. Already a man known for fits of depression, a car accident in Ireland left him in grave pain with blinding headaches that wouldn't subside. So, one day, he stepped off the Staten Island Ferry and into the East River, ending a life of neurotic brilliance.
This book is a collection of a handful of scattered unpublished and unperformed works - mainly the monologue Spalding was working on at the time of his death, about the accident and his attempts to bounce back from the wreck. It's haunting, as is the subsequent "The Anniversary", a piece about 9/11.
Spalding had a gift - the trouble was, and he readily admitted it, that he had to keep having things 'happen to him' to give him his material for his monologues. The accident, sadly, was more than he could bear.
… (more)
This book is a collection of a handful of scattered unpublished and unperformed works - mainly the monologue Spalding was working on at the time of his death, about the accident and his attempts to bounce back from the wreck. It's haunting, as is the subsequent "The Anniversary", a piece about 9/11.
Spalding had a gift - the trouble was, and he readily admitted it, that he had to keep having things 'happen to him' to give him his material for his monologues. The accident, sadly, was more than he could bear.
… (more)
Very difficult book to read, even though you know how it's going to end. Not what I was expecting. I would only recommend to people who are extremely interested in him.
Lists
Read This Next (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 21
- Also by
- 13
- Members
- 2,019
- Popularity
- #12,740
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 25
- ISBNs
- 60
- Languages
- 4
- Favorited
- 11
Gray's becoming a father helped him for once to care about other people. I found this part of his life very touching.