“I never understood people who don't have bookshelves.” — George Plimpton
George Plimpton was born 96 years ago today.
A journalist, writer, editor, actor and occasional amateur sportsman, Plimpton was widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.
He was also famous for "participatory journalism" which included competing in professional sporting events, acting in a Western, performing a comedy act at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and playing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and then writing about the experience from the point of view of an amateur.
Born in New York City, Plimpton spent his childhood attending St. Bernard's School and growing up in an apartment duplex on Manhattan's Upper East Side located at 1165 Fifth Avenue. During the summers, he lived in West Hills, a hamlet located in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, New York.
Plimpton’s father was a successful corporate lawyer and a founding partner of the law firm, Debevoise and Plimpton. He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations serving from 1961 to 1965. His mother was Pauline Ames, the daughter of the botanist, Oakes Ames, and artist, Blanche Ames.
In 1953, Plimpton joined the influential literary journal, The Paris Review, founded by Peter Matthiessen, Thomas H. Guinzburg and Harold L. Humes, becoming its first editor in chief. This periodical carries great weight in the literary world, but has never been financially strong. For its first half-century, it was allegedly largely financed by its publishers and by Plimpton.
One of the magazine's most notable discoveries was author Terry Southern, who was living in Paris at the time and formed a lifelong friendship with Plimpton, along with future classical and jazz pioneer, David Amram.
Outside the literary world, Plimpton was famous for his competition in professional sporting events. In 1958, prior to a post-season exhibition game at Yankee Stadium between teams managed by Willie Mays (National League) and Mickey Mantle (American League), Plimpton pitched against the National League.
His experience was captured in the book, Out of My League. (He intended to face both line-ups, but tired badly and was relieved by Ralph Houk.)
Plimpton sparred for three rounds with boxing greats Archie Moore and Sugar Ray Robinson, while on assignment for Sports Illustrated.
In 1963, Plimpton attended preseason training with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League as a backup quarterback, and ran a few plays in an intrasquad scrimmage. These events were recalled in his best-known book, Paper Lion, which was later adapted into a feature film starring Alan Alda, released in 1968.
Plimpton revisited pro football in 1971, this time joining the Baltimore Colts and seeing action in an exhibition game against his previous team, the Lions. These experiences served as the basis of another football book, Mad Ducks and Bears, although much of the book dealt with the off-field escapades of football friends such as Alex Karras and Bobby Layne.
Another sports book, Open Net, saw him train as an ice hockey goalie with the Boston Bruins, even playing part of a National Hockey League preseason game.
Plimpton also appeared in a number of feature films as an extra and in cameo appearances. He had a small role in the Oscar-winning film, Good Will Hunting, playing a psychologist. Plimpton played Tom Hanks's antagonistic father in Volunteers.
Plimpton was a demolitions expert in World War II. After returning to New York from Paris, he routinely fired off fireworks at his evening parties. His enthusiasm for fireworks grew, and he was appointed Fireworks Commissioner of New York by Mayor John Lindsay, an unofficial post he held until his death.
Each year, during New York Book week, Plimpton would hold court with anyone on the street at The Paris Review booth.
I always looked forward to seeing and talking with him. He was always friendly, open and quick with a great story. After a few years, my conversations with Plimpton at the book fair became a highlight of the experience.
He was a real life literary figure and there are few like him anymore.