Cult writer and actor George Plimpton has died in Manhattan, New York. He was 76.

The author of PAPER LION and founder of the revered THE PARIS REVIEW, Plimpton was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters last year (02) and he also featured in Good Will Hunting.

The writer mostly made a name for himself for taking on non-literary pursuits - he boxed, played football in Detroit, once pitched to baseball hero WILLIE MAYS and he also performed as a trapeze artist for a touring circus.

He also appeared in an episode of THE SIMPSONS - as a bookish professor.

28/09/2003 20:38