Voting Station

George Plimpton

Please vote to return to collections.

Author

The Resume

    (March 18, 1927-September 25, 2003)
    Born in New York City, New York
    Editor of the ‘Paris Review’ (1953-2003), ‘Horizon’ (1959-61) and ‘Harper’s (1972-81)
    Known for his adventures in ‘participatory journalism,’ in which he would compete in professional sporting events
    Wrote ‘Out of My League’ (about baseball), ‘Paper Lion’ (about pro football), ‘Shadow Box’ (about boxing) ‘The Bogey Man’ (about golf) and ‘Open Net’ (about ice hockey)
    Made cameo appearances in ‘Rio Lobo’ (1970), ‘Reds’ (1981), ‘Volunteers’ (1985), ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ (1990), ‘Nixon’ (1995), ‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997) and ‘E.R.’ (1998-2001)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was nicknamed ‘the professional amateur’ and ‘the prince of cameos.’
    He cried when boxer Archie Moore punched him in the nose.
    As an April Fool’s joke, he wrote an article for ‘Sports Illustrated’ about Sidd Finch, a fictitious pitcher with a 160-mph fastball.
    When he appeared in ‘Rio Lobo,’ star John Wayne kept butchering his last name as ‘Pimpleton,’ ‘Pembleton,’ ‘Parfilton’ and ‘Plankton.’
    He appeared in ads for Mattel’s Intellivision.

Why he might not be annoying:

    At the ‘Paris Review’ he discovered writers Philip Roth and Terry Southern.
    He largely financed the ‘Paris Review’ out of his own pocket.
    He was with Robert Kennedy when he was assassinated and helped wrestle Sirhan Sirhan to the ground.
    He was unofficial fireworks commissioner for New York City and helped plan the displays for the 100th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge (1983).
    Ernest Hemingway called ‘Out of My League’ ‘beautifully observed and incredibly conceived.’
    He said, ‘I have never been convinced there’s anything inherently wrong in having fun.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 200 Votes: 65.50% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 114 Votes: 59.65% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 73 Votes: 42.47% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 101 Votes: 59.41% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 36 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 149 Votes: 65.10% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 46 Votes: 39.13% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 37.93% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 66.67% Annoying