On This Day

Spalding Gray

actor and writer

Born: Died: American

Spalding Rockwell Gray (June 5, 1941 – c. January 11, 2004) was an American actor and writer. He is best known for driving autobiographical monologues that he wrote and performed for theater in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as for his film adaptations of these works, beginning in 1987. He wrote and starred in several films, working with different directors.

Theater critics John Willis and Ben Hodges called Gray's monologues "trenchant, personal narratives delivered on sparse, unadorned sets with a dry, WASP, quiet mania." Gray achieved renown for his monologue Swimming to Cambodia, which he adapted as a 1987 film in which he starred; it was directed by Jonathan Demme. Other of his monologues that he adapted for film were Monster in a Box (1991), directed by Nick Broomfield, and Gray's Anatomy (1996), directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Gray died by suicide at the age of 62 after jumping into New York Harbor on January 11, 2004. He had been struggling with depression and severe injuries following a car accident. Soderbergh made a documentary film about Gray's life, And Everything Is Going Fine (2010).

Notable For

American actor and writer

Spalding Gray's Historical Timeline

  1. Spalding Gray is born

    Spalding Gray, American actor and writer, known for american actor and writer, was born on 1941-06-05. Spalding Rockwell Gray (June 5, 1941 – c. January 11, 2004) was an American actor and writer.

  2. Spalding Gray's one-man show "It's a Slippery Slope" opens for a limited-run of 17 performances at the Vivian Beaumont

    Spalding Gray's one-man show "It's a Slippery Slope" opens for a limited-run of 17 performances at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, NYC

Associated Historical Events

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Spalding Gray born?
Spalding Gray was born on 1941-06-05 (American).
What is Spalding Gray known for?
American actor and writer
What historical events involved Spalding Gray?
Spalding Gray was involved in 2 recorded historical events, including Spalding Gray is born, Spalding Gray's one-man show "It's a Slippery Slope" opens for a limited-run of 17 performances at the Vivian Beaumont .
When did Spalding Gray die?
Spalding Gray died on 2004-01-01.

Related Years