Spalding Gray was born in Rhode Island on June 5, 1941. He began as an actor in summer theatre and in time became a major influence in New York City’s avant-garde theatre with the Wooster Group. It was here that he began to perform and write monologues. These hilarious, yet often sad stories of his personal life made him famous. The best known is SWIMMING TO CAMBODIA. Spalding also appeared in about 50 movies, and made occasional TV appearances, from Charlie Rose to The Nanny. But he first and foremost thought of himself as an author. He died in an apparent suicide in 2004.