Spaulding Gray found dead. [Archive]

judex

03-08-2004, 09:16 PM

Well, they finally found the body of Spaulding Gray floating in the east river.

I can't say I was a big fan, although I did enjoy Swimming To Cambodia. It is still sad. The guy had been around for a long time, even appearing New York exploitation films in his early days.

News reports aren't saying whether or not it was suicide.

GiGi

03-08-2004, 09:18 PM

I dont know why but I dreamed of him last night. then i wake up to hear he is dead. Seriously!
I think of him in "Beaches" as a rejected bette midler date. Sorry, I watched it a lot on the late 80's.

Poor Spalding. I hope he has found peace.

Rory L. Aronsky

03-09-2004, 12:07 AM

I had followed the news about him having gone missing and the family hoping that he returned. Also, someone had said they had seen him on a Long Island ferry and his wife feared the worst. The reason I followed this so closely is that he's one of my favorite monologists, right next to Eric Bogosian. The way he'd examine his life was something I'd never heard anyone do and I admired that. And the settings for his monologues were as simple as can be with a wooden table, a chair, and a glass of water, and, in the case of "Monster In A Box", a huge book that he had written.

Want some irony to go with Spalding Gray? Go to amazon.com and look up "Spalding Gray" in "Popular Music". Once there, click on "It's A Slippery Slope" and either read what the reviewer at amazon.com had to say about the CD or listen to the sample. In the sample, he ruminates about being 52 and telling us that his mother had killed herself at 52, and wondered if he would join her by accident. Well, as it turns out, he lived 10 years longer than her, but joined her anyway.

I think, in all honesty, Gray's words will be missed, at least by me. It's a shame that he's gone, but life has ways of working that we can't figure out. And that's the way it goes.

Ellen M.

03-09-2004, 12:05 PM

Swimming indeed!
SO sad that he's gone, but that clinical depression's a bitch, especially when you go off your meds! And he was in that river for 2 months before they found him...2 months! That couldn't have been pretty for the ME who had to pull the dental records for a match! BEYUCK!

I just feel sorry for his wife & kids!
Ellen :(

Furious D

03-09-2004, 12:46 PM

You don't want to know the details of what 2 months in the river could do. I once read a textbook on forensics that just contained a simple description, no pictures, of what extended submersion in water could do. I almost lost my lunch.:(

His family will have to have a closed casket funeral, and I feel really sorry for them.:(

But at least the question of what happened has been answered. I would have preferred him being found alive in a bar in Mexico asking what all the bother was about.:(

GiGi

03-09-2004, 12:50 PM

yeah, i was hoping he would show up and be ok. What a poignant tribute, rory, btw.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

El Duderino Diablo

03-09-2004, 01:40 PM

Bummer-rama. I saw Spaulding Gray at the Van East Cultural Centre several years ago when he was crisscrossing the continent doing his Monster in a Box performance. Brilliant stuff, really. Poignant and funny as hell. The closest I've ever come to peeing my pants in public.

tomreedtoon

03-10-2004, 12:43 AM

I knew little about Spaulding Gray, except what I saw from a few of his monologues on TV. He seemed to be a terribly sad man, with a great ability to describe the sadness of his life in vivid language.

He was undoubtedly talented. Perhaps he didn't believe in his own talent, or didn't believe he was doing enough with it, or perhaps his talent was not important to whatever demons haunted him.

Of course, since this happened in a big city, it's very possible he was given a helping hand into his grave. Probably by a soul just as troubled, but who had found physical activity was a lot more satisfying than passive depression. And someone who probably never heard of Spaulding Grey, but recognized a target when he saw it.

Ellen M.

03-10-2004, 08:53 AM

Only an (%$#@*!) like you would thoerize that someone "helped" Spaulding Gray commit suicide. You clearly know NOTHING about the man's personal history! Pity you can't follow Mr. Gray's example & leave this mortal coil or the threads on this site!

Now it gets personal...
You've recently insulted quite a lof of my friends on this site... and nobody screws with my friends, pal!

Oh, and did I mention that I happen to be one of the original members of this site, I'm tight with Chris Gore & I happen to know the site administrator? So, PLEASE respond with insults & threats to me, so I can see to it that you're flushed down the cyberspace toilet!

Ms. Ellen :mad:

Furious D

03-10-2004, 11:34 AM

Okay, I'm not your friend, and I don't particularly like you, but I don't want any blood shed, be it virtual or literal.

Your little vendetta against the Baron is bordering on the ridiculous. You jump into forums, sling half-assed insults based on misinformation and misconceptions and then you expect everyone to think that the sun, moon and stars shine out of your back passage. Then, when someone calls you on it, you challenge him to trek across the country just to face you & your handful of Disney luvin' cronies in some silly panel debate. And when he refuses, because he's sticking to the proper rules of dueling, you call him a coward.

Say Baron takes you up on your offer. That can only end in two ways, neither of them look good for you.

Option #1: Baron debates you. You end up humiliated and flee the convention crying. :(

Option #2: Baron debates you. Your humiliation at his verbal onslaught puts you in a blind fury causing you to physically attack him. You then get your ass handed to you on a plate.:eek:

Just let it go. You disagreed, you exchanged insults, it happens all the time. That's why the Military/Industrial Complex created the Internet in the first place.

Besides, YOU'RE LOOKING LIKE A TOOL:eek:

You're situation's pretty damn sad when I'm coming off as the voice of reason.

Not only that, you're pissing off Ellen, and that's just plain stupid.

PS: You're Spaulding Gray murder theory is just plain misinformed. The poor guy had a history of devastating depression and past attempts and New York City isn't crawling with drooling psychos like in ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.

GiGi

03-10-2004, 11:43 AM

Hey guys, I think he (Tom) was just specualting that spaulding grey could have been a victim of random violence rather than suicide. which has crossed my mind too, since it was NYC and all.
are my friends a little itchy on the trigger finger? lol

Furious D

03-10-2004, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by GiGi
are my friends a little itchy on the trigger finger? lol

Maybe.

But he's been bugging everybody lately, and that's been making us all a little edgy.

Ellen M.

03-10-2004, 02:03 PM

Edgy?... I'm not edgy, I'm PMSing!
I just have no tolerance for a stupid ass, who comes into OUR sandbox & starts flinging sand in everyone's eyes! He either needs to chill the hell out & play nice, or pound sand, since WE were here first!

I think everyone on this forum has been very cool & respectable (except for me when I have to wear the catwoman suit... oh I kinda went off there for a second!), so there's just no place for jerkoffs. That's not what this forum is about!

Am I right?...
Ellen

The Baron

03-10-2004, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Ellen M.
Edgy?... I'm not edgy, I'm PMSing!

God, she's so... Imperious! I'm getting a kind of tingly sensation...

Any of you other guys getting that?

Ellen M.

03-10-2004, 02:49 PM

Well, I have learned from the best, Mister President! And I thought you fellas liked an imperious chick?

Why is it okay for the boys to fight back & not the girls? BTW - I beat up a boy in 6th grade! That David Bloomberg is STILL crosseyed to this day! HA!

Ellen :)

rrfrankie

03-10-2004, 03:28 PM

Good riddance.

The Baron

03-10-2004, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by Ellen M.
[BWhy is it okay for the boys to fight back & not the girls? [/B]

Who said it's not okay? Did I say it's not okay?

Did any of you tell Ellen it's not okay?

No. Nobody said it's not okay.

It's okay, Ellen. Not only is it okay, but you don't need anyone's permission for it to be okay.

Okay?

Okay.

Furious D

03-10-2004, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by rrfrankie
Good riddance.

That's not very nice. :eek:

I guess you won't be asking for the SWIMMING TO CAMBODIA DVD for Christmas.

El Duderino Diablo

03-10-2004, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by rrfrankie
Good riddance.

Now that is a dickhead comment to make.

Ellen M.

03-10-2004, 04:35 PM

OKAY!

Ellen :)

Ya know, maybe 2 months decomposing in a river would be good pennance for a certain someone who's name I forget... something toon related... but I forget...

tomreedtoon

03-10-2004, 05:29 PM

Originally posted by Ellen M.
Only an (%$#@*!) like you would thoerize that someone "helped" Spaulding Gray commit suicide. You clearly know NOTHING about the man's personal history! Pity you can't follow Mr. Gray's example & leave this mortal coil or the threads on this site!

(And other nonsense)

Ms. Ellen :mad:

I don't care who you're friends with. I don't even care about this site that much. I posted here under the mistaken impression that it wasn't full of passive-aggressive types taking a break from "Ain't It Cool News." I thought you guys were serious about film and media. Apparently I'm wrong. This seems to be just another kiddie board.

If you read anything...if you know how to read, and not just spazz...you would realize I was trying to add another dimension to this thing besides whining and mourning. Like, maybe, Grey lived in New York City, a place full of random sadistic violence, and he was KILLED? Is that phrased simply enough for you?

If you can comprehend that thought, maybe you could try this one - a troubled person like Mr. Grey is just the sort of target a psycho would choose.

Back in your playpen, kids. My time and my life are too valuable to mess with little Max Powers imitators like you.

judex

03-10-2004, 05:34 PM

Well Tom, see ya later. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Furious D

03-10-2004, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by tomreedtoon
Back in your playpen, kids. My time and my life are too valuable to mess with little Max Powers imitators like you.

Goodbye, farewell, auf weiderzien, goodbye...:D

GiGi

03-10-2004, 07:01 PM

Yeah, thats mean, saying good riddance. Reminds me of how when celebs die people say the meanest shit on some message boards. You know the family has to see some of that stuff. Celebs are real human beings and whatever people think about them, its still a life gone and people are hurting over their loss. where is respect?

Rory L. Aronsky

03-10-2004, 07:16 PM

Back in your playpen, kids. My time and my life are too valuable to mess with little Max Powers imitators like you.

Goodbye! Make sure not to come back, because there'll be less wasted space!

For someone whose "time" and "life" are too valuable, he certainly spent a lot of time, to quote and paraphrase Richard Dreyfuss in "The Goodbye Girl": "Making an horse's asseth of himselfeth".

The love he shared in this room is akin to having sex with Attila the Hun.

And, if he actually comes back to joust with us some more, despite what he said above, then that makes him a hypocrite. Come on playpen kids! Let's recite that word: 'HYP-O-CRITE'. I think we've got it down pat.

Pete Vonder Haar

03-10-2004, 11:22 PM

If you read anything...if you know how to read, and not just spazz...you would realize I was trying to add another dimension to this thing besides whining and mourning. Like, maybe, Grey lived in New York City, a place full of random sadistic violence, and he was KILLED? Is that phrased simply enough for you?

I didn't read any whining, simply some heartfelt sadness that the man was dead. But don't try to distract us from your real agenda, Tom. You don't care about elevating the debate, just like you didn't care about "debating" the merits of horror films on the DotD thread. Gray attempted suicide before, and even took a couple of dry runs on the Staten Island Ferry before committing the act successfully.

Were you piled on? Yes. Would I have thought it a bit extreme were it not for your past behavior? Maybe. But your craptastic behavior on the other thread means you're getting cut precious little slack by the other posters. Sack up and contribute something other than telling horror fans how repulsive they are, or challenging us to fights.

But since, as Rory pointed out, you've obviously got better things to do than post on a "kiddie board" (your exhaustive collection of personal cartoon reviews and 25 posts here notwithstanding), please feel free to, y'know, piss off.

Ellen M.

03-11-2004, 09:21 AM

Well, I'd say that once Rory & Vonder Haar have to step in, it's OVER!

I really hate people who can dish it out, but not take it, and thankfully, the lad seems to have FINALLY gotten the message, and I DO hope the door hits him in the ass on the way out!

As for my compadres on this site... I love you all (even if you have a bad case of the bore worms!)

Ellen :)

Pete Vonder Haar

03-11-2004, 09:47 PM

"I am a princess of the blood, Klytus. When my father hears what you've done..."

Nothing wrong with a little case of bore worms.

Ellen M.

03-12-2004, 09:26 AM

She was evil, but hot!
And I hear they've got a new vaccine out that clears those worms right up!

"Flash Gordon" rocks by the way, and clearly Pete already knows that... insert "Queen" soundtrack here!

Ellen ;)

Rory L. Aronsky

03-12-2004, 03:18 PM

I really hate people who can dish it out, but not take it, and thankfully, the lad seems to have FINALLY gotten the message, and I DO hope the door hits him in the ass on the way out!

Ellen, speaking of people who can dish it out, but not take it, I just had to put this in. I admire the hell out of John Kerry who refuses to apologize for his remarks toward the GOP critics when he called them "crooked". I believe there were other words, but the GOP critics and Bush are right in tomreedtoon's league in that they can dish it out, but not take it.

Ellen M.

03-12-2004, 04:05 PM

BOO YA, Rory!
I bet he actually believed there were WMD's in Iraq too! See, the thing with me is, if you're gonna fling shit my way (and insult my friends on this forum), be prepared to get it back times 100!

Oh, and news flash... John Kerry WILL be the next president! Now where did those bore worms go?...

Ellen ;)

Rory L. Aronsky

03-12-2004, 04:20 PM

The bore worms, or Vonder Haar, are either flying into or getting settled in Austin, Texas today for the SXSW Film Festival.

mondoshane

03-14-2004, 11:02 PM

I hope Grey is making a long ass monolouge about floating in a river for two month in heaven.

El Duderino Diablo

03-14-2004, 11:40 PM

What's a monolouge?

The Baron

03-15-2004, 12:06 AM

Isn't monolouge an event in the Winter Olympics?

Rory L. Aronsky

03-15-2004, 12:06 AM

A monologue is comprised of talking to an audience about anything or bitching about your life.

The simplest monologues can be found on Letterman or Leno. That time they spend at the beginning discussing recent newsworthy events? Monologues.

Other ones are like the ones that Spalding Gray did, analyzing certain parts of his life, telling the audience about recent happenings in his life, usually in such a seemingly effortless way that makes writers like myself jealous.

The Baron

03-15-2004, 12:08 AM

Uh, Rory... We were riffing off of the typo.

Rory L. Aronsky

03-15-2004, 12:09 AM

Sorry 'bout that. I'm tired as all get out and didn't notice.

The Baron

03-15-2004, 12:13 AM

That's okay, brother. Go get some sleep. Or better yet, go read about all the zombies your character has been fighting in "Not the West Wing". ;)

GiGi

03-15-2004, 12:15 AM

LOL I had to read that a couple times too to get it. That's cute, Rory.

mondoshane

03-15-2004, 04:12 PM

Riffing on typo's is funny on so many levels...:rolleyes:

El Duderino Diablo

03-15-2004, 06:08 PM

Yeah, should have riffed on the sentence structure instead.

The Baron

03-15-2004, 06:13 PM

Not to mention grammar...

mondoshane

03-15-2004, 07:42 PM

Wow, I feel like I'm dropping out of High School all over again!

Furious D

03-15-2004, 08:20 PM

BAD SPELLERS OF THE WORLD UNTIE!!

mondoshane

03-15-2004, 08:50 PM

Yeah, excuse me for not being able to write "fancy"...:rolleyes: I guess I was too busy in High School reading my subscriptions to "Film Threat" and "Film Threat Video Guide" to learn grammer and shit!

The Baron

03-15-2004, 09:07 PM

Easy there, Mondo... We're just kidding with ya. It's nothing personal, nor is it intended to insult. We do this with each other all the time, and we don't mean to offend.

Now, if you had been a mean-spirited flame-thrower, it would have been entirely different. As it is, just burn us back and let us know you're in on the joke. ;)