George Plimpton

George Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and occasional actor, celebrated for pioneering the genre of participatory journalism. He co-founded and served as the longtime editor of the influential literary magazine The Paris Review, nurturing generations of writers. Plimpton became a public icon through his "professional amateur" exploits, chronicling his attempts to compete alongside professional athletes and performers in books like Paper Lion and The Bogey Man. His distinctive patrician voice and erudite wit made him a fixture on television programs like ABC's Wide World of Sports and in Hollywood films.

Early life and education

He was born into a prominent family in New York City, the son of Francis T. P. Plimpton, a diplomat who served as deputy ambassador to the United Nations. He attended preparatory school at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, where he first developed his literary interests. For his undergraduate studies, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he was a member of the prestigious Harvard Lampoon and the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. After graduating in 1950, he continued his education at King's College, Cambridge, on a G.I. Bill following service in the United States Army, earning another degree while immersing himself in European literary culture.

Literary career and The Paris Review

In 1953, while living in Paris, he co-founded The Paris Review with Peter Matthiessen, Harold L. Humes, and others, establishing it as a primary venue for emerging literary talent focused on the work itself rather than critical theory. As its editor for over fifty years, he published early works by authors including Philip Roth, Jack Kerouac, V. S. Naipaul, and Mona Simpson, and his famous "Writers at Work" interview series featured conversations with Ernest Hemingway, T. S. Eliot, and Rebecca West. The magazine's offices in New York City became a legendary literary salon, hosting parties that attracted figures from Norman Mailer to William Styron. Beyond the Review, he authored and edited numerous books, including a celebrated biography of Truman Capote titled simply Truman Capote.

Participatory journalism and public persona

He invented a unique form of immersive journalism, participating in professional sporting events to document the experience from inside. His 1966 book Paper Lion detailed his training camp with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, and he later sparred with Sugar Ray Robinson, pitched in Major League Baseball at an All-Star Game, and performed as a trapeze artist with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus. These exploits were often broadcast on television, particularly on ABC's Wide World of Sports, cementing his image as the quintessential cultured amateur. This persona led to acting roles in films like ''Rio Bravo'' and Good Will Hunting, and he was a frequent guest on talk shows hosted by Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett. He also served as the official fireworks commentator for the New York Philharmonic's July 4 concerts on the Great Lawn of Central Park.

Later life and legacy

In his later decades, he remained the active editor of The Paris Review and a central figure in the New York City literary scene, while also teaching at Columbia University and New York University. He was a founder of the Academy of American Poets' "Poetry in Motion" program and served as president of the American Institute of Arts and Letters. His final major work was the acclaimed biography of Truman Capote, published in 1997. He died in 2003 at his home in New York City. His legacy endures through the continued publication of The Paris Review, the genre of participatory journalism he pioneered, and his memorable portrayals in documentaries about the New York Yankees and the Beat Generation. The annual George Plimpton Prize is awarded by the Review to honor an outstanding short story.

Category:American journalists Category:American magazine editors Category:1927 births Category:2003 deaths