# Could we have some more "Spalding Gray is dead" threads? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242 "2004-03-09T04:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/61 "2004-03-10T07:23:59Z")
> [@LunaSea](#): > > There are those of us who have no interest in the life of celebrities. I don’t watch E!, or read People. Call that willful ignorance if you wish. It was the current-events media, like CNN and MSNBC, that was talking about his disappearance. Not the gossip media. E!? GMAFB. Now if Anna Nicole Smith had gone missing, they’d have been all over _that_, but Spalding Gray? Pah! He didn’t have good hair, yanno? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/62 "2004-03-10T12:13:15Z")
Everybody knows who Spalding Grey was. Groucho Marx sings a song about him. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/63 "2004-03-10T12:17:27Z")
I don’t watch CNN or MSNBC either. I stopped watching right before the OJ trial and never turned it back on. I’m one of the ones that changes it when I’m tired of the story. I just never bothered changing it back. I get my news from the occasional paper and NPR, if I can get enough quiet time to listen to it. I’m not saying I’m unaware of who Spalding Gray is, but I didn’t know he was missing, and wouldn’t have known of his death if it wasn’t for the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/64 "2004-03-10T12:39:18Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Everybody knows who Spalding Grey was. Groucho Marx sings a song about him. Who the fuck is Groucho Marx? \ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/65 "2004-03-10T12:45:47Z")
**LunaSea** : Fair enough. And I never regarded SG as a “celebrity”, in the sense of “Ben Affleck bought some flowers! Were they for JLo? Stay tuned!” I only thought the story was newsworthy in that a person _of some note_ was _missing_ (and stayed missing, and was known to be depressed and suicidal). I’d place it below the importance of Elizabeth Smart or Laci Peterson being missing, since he was an adult male and there wasn’t the added danger of his possibly being raped/murdered, but above the importance of some moooooooovie star’s romantic life. Mildly surprised you didn’t hear about it from NPR, though. ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/66 "2004-03-10T15:18:39Z")
As has been said, Spalding Gray was not just a US east coast phenomenon (ftr, I’ve never been to NY), and his disappearance and death have also been covered by the Toronto news, the BBC _and_ NPR: [http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1752914](http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1752914) That being said, anyone who loves storytelling and hasn’t known of him should rent “Swimming to Cambodia” or one of his other monologue films. I am hoping that his most recent monologue, “Life Interrupted” will be available on tape at some point. I know he had presented it a few times, though it was considered to be unfinished. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/67 "2004-03-10T21:07:14Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I mean specifically “how famous was he _nationwide_ before his disappearance.” Yes, I have seen the news coverage and the SDMB threads – so I was familiar with Gray’s disappearance as a story into itself, but not familiar with him as a performer, playwright. > > For the nonce, let’s disqualify all media attention devoted to Spalding Gray this calendar year. Before 2004, how did he make himself a household name – or even a somewhat recognizable name – outside of the New York-area? > > I checked him out on [imdb.com](http://imdb.com), and saw that Gray had many character-actor entries, usually playing doctors or professors. Still, I’d quibble with you calling him “well-known” – at least nation-wide. I know a few folks who watch _a lot_ of movies, and consider themselves character-actor aficionados. They probably know of him. But for the non-hobbyist … I don’t know. > > I also found mention of his monologues. That kind of thing is pretty well unknown around here (Jackson, MS). As an experiment, I’m going to see if any of my local video rental places have a copy of _Gray’s Anatomy_. I’m expecting not, but I might be surprised. > > Not that any of this diminishes Gray’s death in any way. My point is that it is incorrect to label someone as “ignorant” if they’ve never heard of Spalding Gray. One may be ignorant of Spalding Gray, but that does not make one an all-around ignorant person, lacking in basic cultural knowledge. Do they have cable in Mississippi? I saw “Monster in a Box” on Showtime and “Gray’s Anatomy” on Sundance, and I don’t live in a particularly booming metropolis. I’m just saying things are out there, you just have to look around occasionally to see them. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/68 "2004-03-11T02:31:00Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > I think half the battle in the ol’ fight is realizing those times when you can get a quick, fairly complete answer from google as opposed to asking “Who the fuck is Spalding Gray”? (and since the person who said that apologized for the tone, I apologize for dredging this up yet again). How might one realize that? …I can only assume that people who post to the SDMB have, by default, an internet connecion and access to google. Yeah, I understand the “it was the tone in which some people asked the question” but not everyone asked it that way, and SINCE the thrtead was already open, and SINCE people were already populating the thread who obviously knew a lot about Spalding Gray were already here, what’s the harm? After all, there are a LOT of experts who just LOVE holding forth on subjects in which they are well educated. At any rate, it wasn’t the “why didn’t you just google it” that I found offensive, it was the secondary statement of, “if you don’t know who he is, you’re TOTALLY devoid of any culture, education or class” (paraphrased), that I found a highly uncalled for attitude. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/69 "2004-03-11T02:52:26Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Everybody knows who Spalding Grey was. Groucho Marx sings a song about him. ‘Hooray for Captain Spalding’? Was that about him? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/70 "2004-03-11T02:59:07Z")
I know, I know… it dawned on me a millisecond after I hit the reply button… I’ll retire to the Billiard room with a revolver… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/71 "2004-03-11T03:28:11Z")
I knew who Spaulding Gray was, although I wasn’t a fan of his work, but I would never have known he was missing if I hadn’t seen a thread here on the SDMB, ad I’d only have seen that thread because I spend about half my time here in Cafe Society. The coverage of his disappearance was far from all-pervasive. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/72 "2004-03-11T03:30:59Z")
Gah. I think I’ll have to take the grammar in my last post out back and shoot it. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/73 "2004-03-11T04:28:10Z")
Of his entire body of work, I only know Spalding Gray as “that guy Bette Midler nearly married in Beaches. You know, the doctor”. I wonder how he would have felt about that? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/74 "2004-03-11T05:48:10Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > Of his entire body of work, I only know Spalding Gray as “that guy Bette Midler nearly married in Beaches. You know, the doctor”. You’re one up on me. When he disappeared and I saw the first coverage in the press I thought “Who?” I looked him up and had only seen a handful of his bit parts in largely ordinary movies and without a photo **still** could not recall who he was. So I lost interest and read none of the subsequent press coverage or any threads until this one - it was of no more interest than if he had been a moderately performed ice hockey player. I can only assume he received any coverage here because apparently he toured here once. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/75 "2004-03-11T06:09:01Z")
I’ve known of Spalding Gray from way back. I believe I saw a glowing review on Siskel and Ebert’s show for _Swimming for Cambodia_ and knew of him from then on. I am from the West Coast (L.A.). I would hate to confess how many times people here on this board mention people that I don’t know. My first action (if I am curious) is to look them up on Google. I do this _all the time._ I’m not saying that it’s “ignorant” to ask, but Google is so much more immediate. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/76 "2004-03-11T06:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > ‘Hooray for Captain Spalding’? Was that about him? No, no, it was, " Lydia, oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia? Lydia the Tattoed lady…" ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/77 "2004-03-11T07:55:16Z")
I never heard of him until this thread. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/78 "2004-03-11T15:53:16Z")
“Everything I’m telling you tonight is true, with one exception: that the banana sticks to the wall when it hits. Everything else is true.” I highly recommend _Swimming to Cambodia_, great way to understand why people like Spalding Gray. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/79 "2004-03-11T16:41:42Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Perhaps you remember my famous Gregory Peck-related tantrum of last summer? Gregory Peck is dead? No way! (Hmmm… last summer… last summer… ) Are you sure? ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242/80 "2004-03-11T16:45:15Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > At any rate, it wasn’t the “why didn’t you just google it” that I found offensive, it was the secondary statement of, “if you don’t know who he is, you’re TOTALLY devoid of any culture, education or class” (paraphrased), that I found a highly uncalled for attitude. Yeah, the truth hurts. Don’t be hurting! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-some-more-spalding-gray-is-dead-threads/233242.md?page=3)