George Ames Plimpton (March 18, 1927 - September 25, 2003) was an American journalist, writer, literary editor, and actor best known for his sports writing and founding the The Paris Review.
In particular, he specialized in "participatory journalism", where he would briefly try his hand at some high-profile job after a crash course learning the basics, then report on his experience, like acting, playing percussion with the New York Philharmonic, and playing quarterback for the Detroit Lions (the basis of his best-known book Paper Lion). He also had a famous stint as the advertising spokesman for Mattel's Intellivision gaming console, and created the infamous Sidd Finch
hoax for Sports Illustrated (reporting that the New York Mets supposedly acquired a dynamo pitcher with a 168-mph fastball, who was torn between baseball and his devotion to Tibetan Buddhism).
He was married to Freddy Medora Espy and Sarah Whitehead Dudley and had four children.
Plimpton died in 2003 at the age of 76 from a heart attack.
Books
- 1946: Letters In Training
- 1955: The Rabbits Umbrella
- 1961: Out Of My League
- 1963: Go Caroline
- 1966: Paper Lion
- 1967: The Bogey Man
- 1973: Mad Ducks And Bears
- 1974: One For The Record The Inside Story Of Hank Aarons Chase For Home Run Record
- 1977: Shadow Box
- 1977: One More July
- 1984: Fireworks A History And Celebration
- 1985: Open Net
- 1987: The Curious Case Of Sidd Finch
- 1990: The X Factor A Quest For Excellence
- 1990: The Best Of Plimpton
- 1997: Truman Capote In Which Various Friends Enemies Acquaintances And Detractorsrecall His Turbuelent Career
- 2004: The Man In The Flying Lawn Chair And Other Excursions And Observations
Filmography
- 1962: Lawrence of Arabia as Bedouin (Uncredited Role)
- 1968: The Detective as Reporter (uncredited)
- 1968: Beyond The Law 1968 as Mayor
- 1970: Rio Lobo as 4th Gunman
- 1976: Saturday Night Live as Audience Member
- 1977: The Private Files Of J Edgar Hoover as Quentin Reynolds
- 1978: If Ever I See You Again as Lawrence Lawrence
- 1980: Greatest Sports Legends as Host/Self
- 1981: Reds! as Horace Whigham
- 1985: Volunteers as Lawrence Bourne Jr.
- 1989: The Equalizer as Clinton Brandauer
- 1989: Easy Wheels as Surgeon
- 1989: A Fool And His Money as God
- 1990: The Civil War as George Templeton Strong/New York World
- 1990: The Bonfire of the Vanities as Well Wisher
- 1991: L.A. Story as Straight Weatherman
- 1991: Little Man Tate as Winston F. Buckner
- 1994: Wings as Dr. Greyson
- 1995: Just Cause as Elder Phillips
- 1995: Nixon as President's Lawyer
- 1996: The Single Guy as George Plimpton
- 1997: Good Will Hunting as Psychologist
- 1998: The Last Days of Disco as Clubgoer
- 1998-2001: ER as John Truman Carter Sr. (2 episodes)
- 1999: EDtv as Panel Member
- 1999: It's Like, You Know... as George Plimpton
- 2000: Wonderland as Spelling Bee Judge
- 2000: Just Shoot Me! as George Plimpton
- 2000: Woman Found Dead In Elevator as Famous Author (short)
- 2001: Just Visiting as Dr. Brady
- 2001: Bullet In The Brain as Narrator (voice)
- 2001-2002: A Nero Wolfe Mystery as Winterhoff/Mr. Parker/various (10 episodes)
- 2003: The Simpsons as George Plimpton
Self
- 1995: Married... with Children
- 1996: When We Were Kings
- 1996: The West
- 1999: Modern Marvels
- 2001: The Sports Pages
- 2001: Sam the Man
