George Plimpton
Explore George Ames Plimpton (1927–2003), the American journalist, editor, and “participatory journalist.” Delve into his life, career at The Paris Review, daring adventures in sports, literary influence, and memorable quotes.
Introduction
George Ames Plimpton was a singular figure in American letters: an urbane editor, witty raconteur, and what he called a “professional amateur.” Born March 18, 1927, and passing on September 25, 2003, Plimpton left behind a body of work and a reputation not just for books and journalism, but for the imaginative way he lived — stepping into worlds he didn’t belong to and reporting from inside them. He co-founded The Paris Review, popularized immersive, experiential journalism, and charmed literary and sports audiences alike with his elegant voice and playful spirit.
In this article, we trace his early life, his career (especially his experiments in “participatory journalism”), his legacy and influence, and a few memorable quotations that reflect his worldview.
Early Life and Family
George Ames Plimpton was born in New York City on March 18, 1927.
Plimpton spent his childhood on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and in summer in Long Island.
From an early age, he displayed a curiosity about many worlds — literature, athletics, performance — that would later shape his distinctive approach to writing.
Education & Formative Years
After high school, Plimpton entered Harvard University (initially class of 1948), where he majored in English, edited The Harvard Lampoon, and was a member of various social and literary clubs.
However, his Harvard studies were interrupted by military service: from 1945 to 1948, Plimpton served in Italy as a tank driver in the U.S. Army.
After returning, he completed his degree at Harvard in 1950. King’s College, Cambridge (1950–1952) and earned a bachelor’s in English (with third-class honors).
These academic and experiential years taught Plimpton both literary craft and a willingness to step off the page and into life.
Career & Achievements
The Paris Review & orial Influence
One of Plimpton’s most enduring legacies is The Paris Review. In 1953, he became its first editor (after its founding by Peter Matthiessen, Thomas Guinzburg, and Harold Humes) and remained its guiding force for the rest of his life.
Under his stewardship, The Paris Review published new fiction, poetry, and interviews—establishing a reputation for literary seriousness and elegance in style.
He used his social charm, networking, and literary taste to sustain the magazine, often subsidizing or promoting it through his connections and energy.
Participatory Journalism: Living the Story
What made Plimpton a cultural figure beyond the literary world was his mode of journalism: he didn’t just observe — he participated. He inserted himself into sports, entertainment, performance, and odd challenges, then wrote about his experience as an amateur insider.
Some notable examples:
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In Paper Lion (1966), Plimpton joined the Detroit Lions NFL team’s training camp as a backup quarterback and chronicled what it was like being in that world as an outsider.
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He boxed with legends like Archie Moore and Sugar Ray Robinson, as subject and reporter.
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He attempted to play professional golf on the PGA Tour in The Bogey Man.
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He became a goalie with Boston Bruins in Open Net, even playing in an exhibition hockey game.
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He tried trapeze, performed stand-up comedy, played percussion with the New York Philharmonic, and appeared in films as cameos.
His willingness to be humbled, to fail, to “do the thing” rather than merely analyze it became his signature.
Cultural Presence & Acting
Beyond writing and editing, Plimpton appeared (often in small or cameo roles) in over 30 films and on television. For instance:
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He appeared in Lawrence of Arabia (as a Bedouin) and Rio Lobo.
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In Volunteers (1985) and Good Will Hunting (1997) he had small roles.
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He also made recurring television appearances (e.g. Nero Wolfe) and participated in comedic or cultural programs (e.g. The Simpsons).
Plimpton’s persona — witty, urbane, curious — allowed him to move easily among literary salons, sports fields, and media circles.
Legacy & Influence
George Plimpton’s legacy is multifaceted:
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Bridge between high and popular culture: He connected literary sensibility to mass arenas like sports and spectacle, making both richer.
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Model of immersive journalism: His style anticipated modern “first-person media” and immersive reporting where writers embed themselves in stories.
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Mentorship and editorial voice: Through The Paris Review, he nurtured writers, curated taste, and influenced literary discourse for decades.
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Cultural figure: His adventures, personality, and voice elevated him beyond author status to public persona; he is still recalled in documentaries and biographical films.
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Oral biography and memorials: After his death, George, Being George (2008) collected reminiscences from many of his acquaintances.
He was also honored as an officier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and a chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Personality, Style & Philosophical Threads
Plimpton’s voice was elegant, cultured, wry, and self-deprecating. He often presented himself as a polite, curious amateur in settings of professionals — a design that undercut his own erudition and sharpened the comic and human contrast.
His style combined polished prose with observational humor, an ability to describe what it feels like to fail or stretch in unfamiliar fields. He believed that the friction between his persona and the arena he entered enriched the narrative.
Philosophically, there is a humility at the core of his work: he did not pretend mastery in the disciplines he entered, and he took seriously the value of the attempt itself. His motto might have been: “I may be out of my league — but I want to see what happens.”
Memorable Quotes
Here are a few lines attributed to George Plimpton that reflect his sensibility:
“It is so much harder to think of something original than it is to write it.”
“My belief is that one ought to plunge into life a hundred times and not worry too much whether one is a pioneer or whether one is showing up the flaws in one’s own argument.”
“The universe is much too big to expect me to carry it all — I prefer to carry only a few stories, but I carry them well.”
“I love to fail — not for its own sake, but for what’s learned in the attempt.”
These capture his mix of humor, self-awareness, and the impulse to test himself.
Lessons from George Plimpton
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Curiosity as artistry
Plimpton showed that curiosity — actively stepping into unknown domains — can itself be the art, not just the object of art. -
The dignity of amateurism
His willingness to fail, to be laughed at, to be outclassed — all part of his literary persona — teaches us that mastery is not the only valid horizon. -
Blurring boundaries
His work reminds writers and thinkers that boundaries between literature, journalism, sports, and performance can be porous and generative. -
Personality as medium
Plimpton treated his own sensibility and voice as instruments: how one speaks can be part of the message. -
Write what you experience
His immersive approach suggests that stories gain depth when grounded in lived, embodied encounter — not just secondhand reporting.
Conclusion
George Ames Plimpton was more than a writer or journalist—he was an instigator of experience, a cultivator of curiosity, and a gentleman amateur who dared to step into worlds in which he didn’t belong so he could tell us what they feel like. His dual life as editor and adventurer allowed him to shape literary culture while also living at its edges and intersections.
If you’re interested, I can recommend a reading order of his works (especially Paper Lion, The Bogey Man, Open Net) or analyze one of his adventures in depth. Would you like me to pick a few of his best books to start with?