David Carr, a writer who overcame drug addiction to become an unlikely standout columnist for The New York Times, died on Thursday in Manhattan.
He was just 58 years old.
The Times reports that David Carr collapsed in the newsroom, shortly before 9 p.m. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Earlier in the evening, he moderated a panel discussion about the film Citizenfour, with its principal subject, Edward Snowden, and the movie’s director.
Carr wrote about cultural subjects, ranging from red carpet happenings during awards season to far more serious analysis of publishing, TV and social media.
Known for his plain-spoken style, he was always blunt – and especially honest about himself – making for a folksy yet sophisticated voice his readers lived.
Often a skeptic, but not overtly cynical, he connected with his audience in a unique way on a broad range of topics up until the day he passed away.
“We want our anchors to be both good at reading the news and also pretending to be in the middle of it,” he wrote of Brian Williams’ suspension from NBC.
“That’s why, when forces of man or Mother Nature whip up chaos, [news outlets ship the whole apparatus] to far-flung parts of the globe, with an anchor as the flag bearer."
"We want our anchors to be everywhere, to be impossibly famous, globe-trotting, hilarious, down-to-earth, and above all, trustworthy. It’s a job description no one can match.”
Well put, and few can match Carr in his own right.
Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. said: “David Carr was one of the most gifted journalists who has ever worked at The New York Times."
Of Carr, Sulzberger added, “He combined formidable talent as a reporter with acute judgment to become an indispensable guide to modern media."
"But his friends at The Times and beyond will remember him as a unique human being … full of life and energy, funny, loyal and lovable."
"An irreplaceable talent, he will be missed by everyone who works for The Times and everyone who reads it.”