Celebrity
Caleb Carr, Military Historian And Author Of Bestselling Novel ‘The Alienist,’ Dies At 68
NEW YORK — Caleb Carr, the damaged and bright son of Beat founder Lucien Carr, who overcame a traumatic childhood to become a successful novelist, excellent military historian, and late-life memoirist of his faithful cat, Masha, died at the age of 68.
Carr died of cancer on Thursday, according to a notice from his publisher, Little, Brown and Company.
“Caleb lived his writing life valiantly, with works of politics, history, and sociology, but most astonishingly for this historian, with wildly entertaining fiction,” Carr’s editor, Joshua Kendall, said.
Caleb Carr, a native of Manhattan, was born into literary and cultural history. Lucien Carr and Columbia University classmates Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg helped start the Beat movement, a pioneering and influential force in the post-World War II era for improvisation and nonconformity – both on and off the page. Kerouac, Ginsberg, and other Beats like William Burroughs and Herbert Huncke were regular guests to the Carr apartment, where Caleb Carr remembers gatherings that were stimulating, perplexing, and, at times, terrifying.
“Kerouac was a really pleasant guy. In 1997, Carr told Salon that Allen Ginsberg may be a very charming guy. “But they weren’t children people.”
Lucien Carr would prove his son’s worst fear. The elder Carr was imprisoned in the 1940s for manslaughter in connection with the murder of his former friend David Kammerer, who clashed with him and was later discovered in the Hudson River. Caleb Carr, born more than a decade later to Lucien Carr and Francesca von Hartz, thought he might become the next victim. With a “gleeful” mood, his father would hit Caleb on the back of the head and routinely knock him down flights of stairs, blaming him for the falls.
Caleb Carr regarded his parents as “the mostly drunken architects” of his household, and they split when he was young. After rejecting Kerouac’s proposal, his mother married writer John Speicher, father of three daughters. Carr and his two brothers called their new, blended family “The Dark Brady Bunch.”
Caleb Carr | AP news Image
Caleb Carr, Military Historian And Author Of Bestselling Novel ‘The Alienist,’ Dies At 68
Caleb Carr’s suffering taught him to hate violence, fear insanity, and investigate the causes of cruelty. In his best-known book, “The Alienist,” John Schuyler Moore is a New York Times police reporter in 1890s Manhattan who assists in the investigation of a series of brutal killings of adolescent boys. Carr referred to the story as a “whydunit” as well as a “whodunit,” and incorporated references to the rising 19th-century study of psychology as Moore and his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler investigate not only the killer’s identity but also what motivated him to do his murders.
“The Alienist,” released in 1994, is the type of meticulously researched, old-fashioned page-turner the Beats had resisted. It mixes fictitious characters like Moore with real people ranging from financial magnate J.P. Morgan to restaurant Charlie Delmonico. Carr also features the city’s police commissioner at the time, Theodore Roosevelt, with whom the author shared an unexpected bond.
“Personally and psychologically, I had always found TR one of the most compelling figures in U.S. history,” Carr told Strand Magazine.
“Later, I recognized that some of this was due to the fact that, as a young man plagued by physical problems and the concerns they induce, his father, a truly sympathetic and caring guy, helped him through his darkest days. This is frequently the secret to outstanding guys with noble hearts: an openly caring father. Having had the opposite — a father who was the primary source of my early worries and maladies — I was lured to what was, for me, an exotic environment.”
“The Alienist” sold millions of copies, inspired the bestseller sequel “Angel of Darkness,” and was made into a TNT miniseries starring Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning. Carr’s success as a novelist overshadowed, if not trivialized, his experience as a military historian. He taught military history at Bard College, was a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History, and had a close relationship with the academic James Chace, with whom he co-authored “America Invulnerable: The Quest for Absolute Security from 1812 to Star Wars.”
Caleb Carr | Bloomberg Image
Caleb Carr, Military Historian And Author Of Bestselling Novel ‘The Alienist,’ Dies At 68
Carr had been writing on prospective terrorism against the United States for years before publishing a book-length analysis a few months after the attacks on September 11, 2001. In “The Lessons of Terror,” he argued that military attacks against civilian populations invariably fail, drawing on lessons from ancient Rome. “The Lessons of Terror” did well, but some commentators believed he was not up to the task.
New York Times writer Michiko Kakutani commented that Carr “has little credibility as a military historian or political analyst,” and urged he stick to thrillers, while Salon’s Laura Miller described some of his claims as “slippery and elusive as a handful of live minnows.” Enraged, Carr responded with an all-caps letter to Salon’s editor, suggesting that Miller and Kakutani abandon military history instead of “chattering about bad women’s fiction.”
“Several reviews have made claims concerning my credibility that are, quite simply, libelous, and will be dealt with soon,” he later stated on Amazon.com, where he awarded his book a 5-star rating.
Carr’s other works were the Sherlock Holmes story “The Italian Secretary,” the historical study “The Devil Soldier,” and a 2024 memoir that served as his artistic goodbye, “My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Saved Me.”
As a child, Carr was so appalled by human behavior that he began to empathize with cats – and became persuaded he was once one. Carr spent much of his adult life alone, or with no other people, living in a big stone house in upstate New York, made possible by profits from “The Alienist” and other writings, on a 1,400-acre property in the foothills of Misery Mountain.
In “My Beloved Monster,” he described his experience as “abuse, mistrust, and then the search for just one creature on Earth” upon whom he could rely. In 2005, his search led him to the Rutland County Humane Society in Vermont, where he observed a gold and white kitten with large, deep amber eyes, a Siberian who mewed “conversationally” as Carr approached her cage
Caleb Carr | NY Times Image
Caleb Carr, Military Historian And Author Of Bestselling Novel ‘The Alienist,’ Dies At 68
“I answered her with, with both sounds and words, and more importantly held my hand up so that we could get my scent, pleased when she inspected the hand with her nose and found it satisfactory,” he wrote in his letter. “Then I slowly closed and reopened my eyes many times, mimicking the’slow blink’ that cats interpret as a gesture of friendship. She seems interested, taking the time to affirm with a similar blink. Finally, she mirrored my hand movement by raising her gigantic paws to mine, as if we had known each other for a long time: an intimate gesture.”
Carr and Masha would live together for the next 17 years, attuned to each other’s moods and musical tastes until Masha died. “My Beloved Monster” was a type of dual elegy. As Masha’s health deteriorated, Carr developed neuropathy and pancreatitis, which he attributed to his childhood trauma. Watching Masha die while lying in a makeshift coffin was like bidding goodbye to his “other self.”
“Some people believe that mourning is a healing process; I have never found this to be true. It leaves scars, and scars do not heal. I’ve never had someone who has been a part of my everyday reality for as long as Masha; how can it heal?” Carr wrote.
“It appears that since my arrival on this planet, I have been as tough for my fellow humans as they have been for me, going beyond the easy areas of social convention and amusement. But Masha asks no such queries. I was enough; not just enough, but enough to justify defending.”
SOURCE – (AP)
Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who formed the iconic pop group the Jackson 5, has died. He was seventy.
Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet, and was raised in a musical family whose songs have sold hundreds of millions of copies.
“With heavy hearts, we announce that our dear father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are astonished, sad, and heartbroken. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson said in an Instagram post late Sunday.
Tito Jackson, Member Of Beloved Pop Group The Jackson 5, Dies At 70
The Jackson 5, one of the final major groups formed by Berry Gordy’s Motown business, consisted of teenage and pre-teen brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and lead singer Michael. Gordy signed them in the late 1960s when Motown’s popularity was waning and tastes were turning away from the polished pop-soul of Motown’s heyday and towards the funkier sounds of Sly and the Family Stone.
The group’s breakout single, “I Want You Back,” was openly modeled after Sly and the Family Stone and topped the charts in 1969. The Jacksons followed up with three more No. 1 hits, “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There,” as well as “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye,” which reached the top five.
Some referred to their sound as “bubblegum soul.”
By the middle of the decade, the Jackson 5’s appeal had faded, and the group, except Jermaine, had moved to Epic and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Their subsequent singles were “Enjoy Yourself,” “Lovely One,” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” Michael Jackson became a multi-platinum solo performer in the 1980s, and duets with his siblings became uncommon following the 1984 album “Victory.”
In 1997, the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and long-time friend Diana Ross presented them during the ceremony.
Raised in Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5 were led by their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist. Michael and his sibling La Toya would accuse him of aggressive behavior. Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was the group’s least-heard member, serving as a background singer and guitarist.
Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009. Tito Jackson told The Associated Press in December 2009 that his younger brother’s death brought the family closer together.
“Definitely, it drew us closer together. Recognising the love we have for one other when one of us is not here, what a big loss,” he added, adding that he would personally never “be at peace with it.”
“I still have moments when I can’t believe it. “So I believe that will never go away,” he said.
In 2014, Jackson stated that he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence during their shows, which included foreign tours.
“I doubt we’ll ever get used to performing without him. He’s sorely missed,” Jackson stated, stressing that his brother’s presence remains “with us when we play.” It fills us with wonderful energy and makes us smile a lot.
Days before his death, Jackson wrote a message on Facebook from Germany on September 11, where he had visited a Michael Jackson monument with his brothers.
“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I went to the lovely tribute for our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We are grateful for this wonderful site that honours both his memory and our common legacy. Jackson wrote: “Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”
Tito Jackson, Member Of Beloved Pop Group The Jackson 5, Dies At 70
Jackson was the latest of the nine brothers to record a solo album, with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time.” In 2017, he published a song called “One Way Street,” and in 2019, he told the Associated Press that he was working on his second album.
Jackson stated that he purposefully avoided pursuing a solo career in order to devote his time to raising his three boys, who created their music group, 3T. Jackson’s website includes a link to the single “Love One Another,” which features 3T and Stevie Wonder.
Jackson is also survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie, and La Toya, and his mother Katherine. Their father died in 2018.
Entertainment Tonight initially reported Jackson’s death.
SOURCE | AP
TORONTO – August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” is truly about bloodline and heritage, so it’s fitting that the new film adaptation, produced by Denzel Washington and directed by his son Malcolm, is a family affair.
“The Piano Lesson,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, is the third installment in Washington’s ongoing quest to adapt Wilson’s plays for the screen. It follows “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and, like those films, includes several standout performances, including Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece and John David Washington, Malcolm’s older brother, as Berniece’s brother, Boy Willie.
AP News Image
Denzel Washington Hands Over To His Son Malcolm And Keeps August Wilson In The Family
In 1930s Pittsburgh, Boy Willie arrives at his sister’s house with plans to sell a family heirloom, a piano carved by their ancestors who took it from their enslaver. In the ensuing painful family drama, Berniece, Boy Willie, and others (including Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, and Ray Fisher) grapple with the haunting shadow of slavery and the weight of familial lineage.
“There are so many legacies tied into this,” says Malcolm Washington. “I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to honour and uphold that. We are here because so many people battled, sacrificed, and acted to provide opportunities for future generations. This film, and the story behind it, is ultimately much larger than my family.”
Malcolm, 33, was seated with his older brother and Deadwyler a few hours before the premiere of “The Piano Lesson,” which Netflix will show on November 8 before streaming on November 22. Denzel Washington stormed into the room just as the interview was about to end.
“It really all started with me,” Denzel joked, as the other three howled in amusement. “Then I had two sons, and the next thing I knew I was out of work!”
Denzel, along with his producing partner Todd Black, stated that it was his son’s idea for him to direct “The Piano Lesson.” Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play had a run on Broadway in 2022, with many of the same actors, including John David.
“Malcolm said he had a take,” Denzel explains. “He stated, ‘Let me put something together.'” So he cut a bit short. I looked at it like, “Whoa, OK.” You want to make the film? “This is fantastic; make the movie.”
However, Malcolm did not immediately go for it. He informed his father, “Let me see if I can watch the movie first.” He began developing a treatment and eventually co-wrote the script with Virgil Williams (“Mudbound”).
“At first, I was like, ‘See the movie’? But I understand now,” replies Denzel. “He’s an actual filmmaker. He took his time and didn’t leap right in.”
While John David, the 40-year-old actor of “BlacKkKlansman” and “Tenet,” has firmly established himself as Hollywood’s leading man, Malcolm, an alumnus of the American Film Institute’s directing program, is only now emerging. “He knew what he wanted,” Black explains. “And he wasn’t afraid to reach out to people who knew more than he knew.”
Denzel kept a low profile during the filming of “The Piano Lesson,” allowing Malcolm to work. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm for Wilson’s plays persisted throughout the production.
“He’s such a fan of August Wilson and it’s such an important part of his legacy to continue telling August’s stories,” Malcolm tells me. “His main thing with all of us was to keep that focus: We’re here to honour one of our greats.”
Denzel Washington Hands Over To His Son Malcolm And Keeps August Wilson In The Family
“The Piano Lesson” is a Washington family production in other respects as well. Pauletta Washington, the mother of Malcolm and John David, plays Mama Ola. The film is dedicated to their mother.
“I started with a clear idea of this is about fathers and sons,” according to Malcolm. “As we were shooting, I really began to see this mother-daughter story, and my mother is such an inspiration to me. I’ve always seen my mother as connected to the Berniece narrative.
Malcolm’s sisters are also active. Olivia Washington plays Mama Ola, a young woman, while Katia Washington serves as an executive producer. Ironically, Denzel, the father, is almost the only member of the family who does not appear in the film. But Malcolm, wanting everyone in the family to be represented in the video, asked his father to record a quick voiceover.
SOURCE | AP
Celebrity
Lil Wayne Feels Hurt After Being Passed Over As Super Bowl Halftime Headliner. The Snub ‘Broke’ Him
Los Angeles — Lil Wayne spoke up for the first time about his disappointment at not being chosen as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show main artist in his hometown of New Orleans.
The rap megastar publicly vented his disappointment in an Instagram video clip Friday, about a week after Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar was revealed as the headliner. He stated that being neglected “broke” him, adding, “I’m just trying to put myself back together.”
Rolling Stone Image
Lil Wayne Feels Hurt After Being Passed Over As Super Bowl Halftime Headliner. The Snub ‘Broke’ Him
Wayne has long expressed a desire to play during halftime of the NFL championship game, which will be hosted at the Caesars Superdome on February 9. It will be Lamar’s second halftime performance, following a special appearance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Eminem in 2022.
Wayne sounded somber in the video, stating he had to find the strength to express himself “without breaking.”
“That hurt a lot,” said lil, a five-time Grammy winner who had singles like “Lollipop” with Static Major, “Mr. Carter” with Jay-Z, “Go DJ,” and “A Milli.” He also fuelled the careers of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga.
“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, for automatically mentally putting myself in that position,” he told me. “I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform in my city.”
Wayne praised his fans, including Minaj and Birdman, for speaking up on his behalf.
Hip HopDx Image
Lil Wayne Feels Hurt After Being Passed Over As Super Bowl Halftime Headliner. The Snub ‘Broke’ Him
“I feel like I let all of ya’ll down for not getting that opportunity,” Wayne told the audience.
However, He also stated, “Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
SOURCE | AP
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