Monday, March 08, 2004

Spalding 3 ... The Times has posted its obituary, too: "Almost always seated behind a simple desk, with a glass of water, a microphone and some notes, Mr. Gray practiced the art of storytelling with a quiet mania, alternating between conspiratorial whispers and antic screams as he roamed through topics large and small. "This talent was perhaps never better displayed than in "Swimming to Cambodia," his 1984 monologue in which his experiences filming a small role in the movie "The Killing Fields" became a jumping-off point for exploring the history and culture of war in Southeast Asia. The piece was itself turned into a noted film, directed by Jonathan Demme, in 1987." 2:37:44 PM    comment []

Spalding 2 ... And here is the first New York Times story on the body. From the Associated Press. "The city medical examiner confirmed through dental records and X-rays on Monday that it was Gray's body. The cause of his death was still under investigation, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner. "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." ' " 1:25:11 PM    comment []

Spalding Gray ... Missing since January and now found dead in the East River in New York City (no link yet, but The New York Times among others is reporting that on its Web site). A strange, sad fact is that no one I've mentioned this to in the office -- and I've only talked to the Ford-Carter-Reagan babies so far -- has any idea who he was.   1:06:07 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 Dan Brekke.