RIP, David Rakoff

Am incredibly sad to hear that the great David Rakoff died yesterday in his Tudor City apartment here in Manhattan. He was just 47. I knew he was gravely ill -- the radiation he received for treatment of Hodgkin’s disease in the '80s had likely caused his recent tumor in his shoulder, which eventually took his life -- but to hear it officially from a good friend of his still came as a shock, as I thought somehow this whole thing had been a bad plot twist he could still weave his way out of. He was the author of three of my favorite books, "Fraud," "Don't Get Too Comfortable" and "Half Empty," which he was writing when the cancer returned and includes one of the most moving essays about the subject you will ever read. David inspired me in ways for which I will always be grateful, and I feel fortunate to have seen him recently at the Person, Place and Thing taping as well as his heartbreaking dance recital in "This American Life (Live).". He left a nice mark on the world, yet we still all got robbed. You're missed already, David. But fortunately I think you know/knew that. Now rest in peace, sweet man.

UPDATE: Read David's loving New York Times obituary HERE.

The Associated Press reports that Doubleday plans to publish Rakoff’s final work -- “Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die; Cherish, Perish," a rhyming snippet of which David recently shared with me -- next year. Can't wait.

UPDATE: See some of David's art and a video of him from "This American Life (Live)" HERE.