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
Drinking, Smoking and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times (1994) — Contributor — 339 copies, 4 reviews
The Undiscovered Chekhov: Forty-Three New Stories (1998) — Foreword, some editions — 69 copies, 1 review
Take My Advice: Letters to the Next Generation from People Who Know a Thing or Two (2002) — Contributor — 47 copies
A Lifetime of Wisdom: Essential Writings By and About the Dalai Lama (2002) — Contributor — 24 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
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This book is a collection of a handful of scattered unpublished and unperformed works - mainly the monologue Spalding was working on at the time of his death, about the accident and his attempts to bounce back from the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)
Lists
Read This Next (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 23
- Also by
- 14
- Members
- 2,055
- Popularity
- #12,511
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 26
- ISBNs
- 63
- Languages
- 4
- Favorited
- 11
Swimming to Cambodia
Spalding Gray.
Swimming to Cambodia, is a 1987 American concert film written by and starring Spalding Gray, and directed by Jonathan Demme. The performance film is of Gray's play and monologue, which centered on such themes as his trip to Southeast Asia to create the role of the U.S. Ambassador's aide in the film The Killing Fields, the Cold War, Cambodia Year Zero, and his search for his "perfect moment". It was nominated for Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay at the 1988 Independent Spirit Awards.
Would anybody have this film?
Nick Wannan… (more)