Spalding Gray

Spalding Rockwell Gray was an American actor and writer who departed this life tragically at the age of 62. He is known for the autobiographical monologues that he wrote and performed. His most notable monologue film is "Swimming to Cambodia." Born 1941 in Providence, Rhode Island, Gray studied at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree major in poetry in 1963. Two years later, he became a speaker and teacher of poetry at the Esalen Institute. In 1975, he co-founded the theater company "The Wooster Group" and in 1984 he appeared in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” However, Gray first achieved prominence when he wrote his monologue "Swimming to Cambodia" which was adapted into a film in 1987. The next year he had an HBO Special where he delivered the monologue, “Terrors of Pleasure.” In 1992 he published his only novel, “Impossible Vacation.” Four years later, he appeared as Simon Veatch in the thriller film "Diabolique." That same year “Gray's Anatomy" is fil