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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
 Posted - 01/14/2004 : 08:43:17
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I wanted to let anyone interested or curious about Spalding to know about the interviews and material available at npr.org right now. Terry Gross, of "Fresh Air", has dedicated today and tomorrow's shows to him. Downloads and the streaming show/interviews are available here:
http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1781976.html
ramona's post regarding the discovery of his unfortunate passing is here:
http://forum.frankblack.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6109
CNN is reporting that actor/writer/monologuist Spalding Gray
disappeared over the weekend.
I heard about this last night. I've bee a fan and admirer for many years - the first I saw of him was "Monster in a Box" and "Gray's Anatomy", and then I discovered his connection with Laurie Anderson, and others in my circle of interests, like David Byrne.
"He was the interviewer in the Laurie Anderson video, "What You Mean We", and Laurie composed the music for his two classic monologue films, Swimming to Cambodia and Monster in a Box. He also co-starred in David Byrne's "True Stories"."
From Newsday:
'Spalding Gray, the one-man performance artist who has endured his mother's suicide, severe bouts of depression and a 2001 car accident that left him with a fractured skull, remained unaccounted for yesterday, more than 48 hours after he was reported missing.
Police and relatives, who were searching for the 62-year-old actor-author on the East End and in Manhattan, were especially concerned for Gray's well-being because he has twice attempted suicide in the past two years.
Yesterday, a woman at Gray's two-story white house in North Haven on the South Fork, who identified herself only as a friend of the family, said relatives were "too upset to comment."
"We're asking anyone who sees him to contact us," she said. "We're just praying and hoping for the best."'
 Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha! |
Edited by - apl4eris on 03/22/2004 11:34:20 |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:15:33
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I would love to comment on this story but I know nothing of this man. Is he well known outside the US?
Good name though. Could be a racing pigeon or champion racehorse. Maybe I should start another thread along those lines. People like Minnie Driver and Austin Healey would qualify.
 "Join the Cult of the Theremin / It's Velouriatastic!!" |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:16:56
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Apl, apologies if this appears to be trivialising your post. Not intended!
"Join the Cult of the Theremin / It's Velouriatastic!!" |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:25:09
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This is very weird/sad. I hope he didn't hurt himself. Maybe it will shine some light on the illness that is depression. Poor guy though, it sounds like he has really been trying to get help - last year he even checked himself into a hospital and got shock treatments. Yikes.
**************************************************
"I don't think The Pixies will ever play together again as a band. A reunion gig? It doesn't seem right or something. It seems wrong...it just doesn't seem like the thing to do." Frank Black, 2002
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:32:28
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No worries, Barney ;), I try to have a healthy sense of humor, besides, I like where you're going with that.
Yeah, ramona - you know it's bad when you voluntarily subject yourself to EST, have you ever read "Faces in the Water", by Janet Frame (native New Zealander)? It's a very, very good book, which happens to be from the perspective of a depressed patient, who undergoes shock "treatment".
Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha! |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:34:11
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the treatments actually CAN be very beneficial though....and they use anesthesia now, so it's not painful
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SCARAMOUCH, SCARAMOUCH,
WILL YOU DO THE FANDANGO? |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:35:02
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oops. To answer your question, Barney, I believe he is well-known in certain circles outside the US - especially to Laurie Anderson fans, and perhaps also Talking Heads/Lou Reed/performance art/fans? You may have seen him in "The Killing Fields", a good movie about journalists in Cambodia....
Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha! |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 09:47:31
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I have seen the Killing Fields. Long time ago though. Very powerful piece of cinematography I recall. Did Spalding Gray play a journalist in that film?
"Join the Cult of the Theremin / It's Velouriatastic!!" |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 10:06:22
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quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
No worries, Barney ;), I try to have a healthy sense of humor, besides, I like where you're going with that.
Yeah, ramona - you know it's bad when you voluntarily subject yourself to EST, have you ever read "Faces in the Water", by Janet Frame (native New Zealander)? It's a very, very good book, which happens to be from the perspective of a depressed patient, who undergoes shock "treatment".
I will check out that book. Another VERY good book on depression is The Noonday Demon, An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Soloman. He researched depression to try and understand his own illness and looks at others stories, the chemical aspects, etc. It's very interesting. |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 10:16:18
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quote:
Originally posted by bedrock_barney
I have seen the Killing Fields. Long time ago though. Very powerful piece of cinematography I recall. Did Spalding Gray play a journalist in that film?
Yes, he did. The story centers around Dith Pran, who helped the journalists get a story that otherwise might never have made it to the press. http://www.dithpran.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields
Here's a rather long review: http://www.cambodian.com/dithpran/film.htm
Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha! |
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GoddessTheory
= Cult of Ray =
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 10:31:03
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I saw him live and remembering the things he said, he often talked about taking walks by himself. Hopefully nothing happened to him on one of these walks but appearantly, his brother in an article said he had been very depressed lately.
Reminds me of when Jeff Buckley went "missing". I hope he's ok. |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2004 : 10:47:20
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He was also had a part in The Paper. I saw one of his live performances and enjoyed it. I also became aware of him through Laurie Anderson.
I hope he's checked into a hotel somewhere, but it doesn't look good. |
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deadlydoctor
- FB Fan -
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 08:51:02
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At least it isn't Captain Spaulding that's missing.
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he’s tripping over graves • as rain begins to fall • and finally they escape when the shuttle bus is called |
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positivelySlime
- FB Fan -
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 17:39:08
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| Oh man, this is bad news. I wouldn't call myself a big fan of Spalding Gray, but I have seen Monster In a Box, Swimming to Cambodia, and Gray's Anatomy. I enjoy his work. Maybe a little too intellectual for my tastes, but no one can talk to a camera like he can. I didn't know about his injuries and suicide attempts over the past couple years. That comes as a big surprise. I hope he's alright. |
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SpudBoy
= Cult of Ray =
Equatorial Guinea
649 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 19:12:23
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Me too - likewise I would not consider myself a "fan" but I have serious respect for his work. One of the few Real People in show business, I suppose. This story affects me in a way I did not expect.
 I looked for a cult to join, then decided to just play "Sink". Hey! I sank the LaBrea Tar Pits! |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 19:33:24
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Yeah - it is strangely unnerving. I didn't expect to have this reaction either.
If you haven't seen any of his monologues, they are seriously funny and usually cover odd topics or regular topics in a weird way. He is a singular character, maybe like Hunter S. Thompson mixed with Woody Allen, and a dash of Tom Waits. I know, weird.
 What da ya want for nothing? ... a rubber biscuit? |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2004 : 20:37:52
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If anyone is still following this, I am on a Laurie Anderson mailing list
( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laurieandersonclub/ ), and a fellow fan posted some further information about Spalding. Hopefully he won't mind me reproducing it here for you:
"Hi all
The irony of it all is that it appears very likely that if Spalding has
killed himself, it may have been due to the harrowing experience of
writing his latest monologue (at least, according to a later CNN
story).
Anyone who is familiar with Gray's work will agree that it would be
terribly ironic (and doubly sad) if this ends up being the case.
At the same time, I seem to recall reading in one of his earlier works
that he also occasionally had the urge to just disappear. It's very
possible Gray has done just that.
To explain my earlier comment about the monologue: back in 2001, Gray
was seriously injured in a car accident (I hadn't heard about this
until
the stories of his disappearance came out) and I guess he's been in bad
shape, physically ever since. The fact it coincided with his 60th
birthday probably also contributed to the state of depression he
entered
as a result. Apparently his latest monologue was to be a catharsis for
him as he came to terms with the accident (much as Gray's Anatomy, a
monologue from a few years ago, dealt with him dealing with the
possibility of going blind at that point in his life).
I was initially attracted to Gray's work because of Laurie Anderson
doing the music to Swimming to Cambodia and Monster in a Box (the lack
of soundtrack albums for both was unfortunate). But I became a fan of
his writing early on. He wasn't a bad actor, either. His appearance in
True Stories was a highlight of that film.
Cheers
Alex"
What da ya want for nothing? ... a rubber biscuit? |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2004 : 21:43:20
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I think Alex would probably be honoured that you thought enough of what he said to quote him here...
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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GypsyDeath
Zapped Profile
3575 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2004 : 21:47:03
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Oh no!
I really hope he hasnt done anything like kill himself.
I loved true stories and much more of his work.
This too has affected me in a way i did not expect
_________________________
Im the only one who laughs |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 08:40:50
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From http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/21/nyregion/21gray.html (registration free, blah blah blah)
Sara Vass, a family friend, said the family had heard from a retired
police detective who described seeing Mr. Gray at a diner in Orange
County, N.Y., after he was reported missing.
"His description of Spalding was on the money,'' Ms. Vass said. "The
fellow he thought was Spalding came in and asked to sit at the
window. The waitress said, 'That's a table for four people.' The man
said, 'I want to sit by the window.' That is exactly what Spalding
would do.''
<fingers crossed>
 Today, we're gonna learn poodles how to fly. |
Edited by - apl4eris on 01/23/2004 08:41:45 |
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mcmikey
= Cult of Ray =
799 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 08:52:11
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I sent you an email, apl
************************
mikey wuz here |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 09:05:00
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Why, yes you did. ;)
Today, we're gonna learn poodles how to fly. |
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mcmikey
= Cult of Ray =
799 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 09:34:25
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you get my vote for sexiest forum member, fo' sho'
************************
mikey wuz here |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2004 : 11:42:49
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quote:
Originally posted by ramona
quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
[snip!] ...have you ever read "Faces in the Water", by Janet Frame (native New Zealander)? It's a very, very good book, which happens to be from the perspective of a depressed patient, who undergoes shock "treatment".
I will check out that book. Another VERY good book on depression is The Noonday Demon, An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Soloman. He researched depression to try and understand his own illness and looks at others stories, the chemical aspects, etc. It's very interesting.
Ramona, I had forgotten you mentioned this book -my "to read" list had gone missing- so I am glad I dug up this thread again. Thanks for the recommendation -I'll look for it.
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
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