What the hell is going on? This is my third obituary I've blogged in less than 12 hours. [Previously: Robert Palmer, Hank Goz]
One of the most colorful figures in all of literature, George Plimpton, has died.
Aside from founding Paris Review and writing a plethora of books, essays and magazine articles, Plimpton was known for the level to which he took participating in the subjects of his words.
He boxed with Archie Moore, pitched to Willie Mays and performed as a trapeze artist for the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus. He acted in numerous films, including "Reds" and "Good Will Hunting." He even appeared in an episode of "The Simpsons," playing a professor who runs a spelling bee.
Plimpton was resonsible for the greatest April Fool's joke ever - the creation of one Sidd Finch, the one-shoe-on-one-shoe-off New York Mets prospect who could throw a baseball at a blazing 168 mph.
Millions of Sports Illustrated readers believed Plimpton's creatively written story on the amazing Finch. Alas, it was too good to be true.
George Plimpton actually left an obscure hint that the story was a hoax within the article itself (the non-obscure hint being that the story was absurd). The sub-heading of the article read: "He's a pitcher, part yogi and part recluse. Impressively liberated from our opulent life-style, Sidd's deciding about yoga —and his future in baseball." The first letter of each of these words, taken together, spells "H-a-p-p-y A-p-r-i-l F-o-o-l-s D-a-y."
George Plimpton: Author, actor, speaker; a true Renaissance Man.
i would prefer not to write another obituary today
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Two words for George: Paper Lion. I loved that book and fastasized about running around making cameo performances in all my favorite sports and other performance endeavors, buoyed by some literary magic that would enable me to function at the highest levels for a brief Cinderella period. At George wasn't young.
2 - Natalie Davis
Yes, he wasn't young, but wow...
RIP, Mr. Plimpton.
Something is in the Cristal.
3 - Eric Olsen
I'm doing a death pool story for Halloween - there won't be anyone left.
4 - Steve Rhodes
I saw the movie of Paper Lion on TCM a few months ago. There was just an interview on NPR on the 40th anniversary of the book and Plimpton and other members of the 63 Detroit Lions were at last Sunday's game.
Last month, NPR spoke with him for a feature on the 50th anniversary of the Paris Review.
5 - michele
Eric, I can guarantee you Arafat will still be around by Halloween.
Those type always hang around too long.
6 - Steve Rhodes
Here is the feature on the Paris review (which also has a link to an interview on the Capote bio at the bottom) and interview on Paper Lion.
Damn ""s. Is there any way to change this so they aren't required in comments (they aren't in posts)?
7 - Eric Olsen
Steve, I'm not sure if the "-"'s are required in posts, but if you use the automated link generator, it uses them. I haven't tried it by hand without them to see if that works.
8 - Steve Rhodes
It works without ""s in posts, but not comments.
My old computer sucks so the MT autolink generator doesn't work. I always handcode links and never bother with ""s because I forget the endquote too often which makes a bad link.
9 - Ross
His book Fireworks: A History and Celebration is also noteworthy, as is his commentary in the Ali-Foreman documentary, "When We Were Kings."
Also, for this child of the '80s, he was the face of Intellivision.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Plimpton.