David Rakoff, Acerbic Essayist and Commentator
Rakoff penned such books as Fraud and Half Empty, and contributed to the This American Life radio program and TV series.
David Rakoff, a writer and commentator who brought a wry, often acerbic tone to journalism, books, radio, television and film died August 9, 2012, in New York City. He was 47.
According to news reports, the cause was cancer.
A native of Canada, Rakoff first moved to New York to attend Columbia University. He worked as a publicist in book publishing before becoming a writer himself.
Rakoff was first diagnosed with cancer at age 22. More recently the disease returned as a tumor in his left shoulder.
In addition to contributing to such publications as GQ, The New York Times, Slate and others, and authoring such books as Fraud and Half Empty, Rakoff contributed t the radio program This American Life as well as its television version. His other television appearances include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and various talk shows.
Rakoff also wrote and had a role in the short film The New Tenants, which won an Oscar in 2010.
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