Tuesday, September 15, 2009

RIP Men In Your 50s

I wanted to note the passing of two men who have died in the last week that made an impression with me. The one most people would recognize is, of course, Patrick Swayze. From Outsiders and Dirty Dancing to Ghost and To Wong Foo, Swayze played some interesting roles and did a great job in them. I personally didn't understand his 'sex appeal' but he seemed like a really good guy. You don't find many people in Hollywood faithfully staying married to the same person for 34 years. And no one should have to suffer the way I'm sure he did at the end. Watching my mom die of cancer I know he must have been in a lot of pain at the end. It's sad to see someone who seemed to love life so much die decades before they should have. Swayze was 57.

My more obscure mention goes to punk musician and poet Jim Carroll. He is best known for his journals chronicling his days as a hustler and heroin addict in The Basketball Diaries, which was adapted in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He was also a pivotal player in the birth of the punk scene and that's how I knew him better. The single "People Who Died", from the Jim Carroll Band's 1980 debut album, Catholic Boy is definitely a favorite of mine. I've included it here. I guess Carroll can add himself to the list.