Mark O'Brien (poet)
Mark O'Brien | |
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Born | Boston, Massachusetts | July 31, 1949
Died | July 4, 1999 | (aged 49)
Occupations |
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Mark O'Brien (July 31, 1949 – July 4, 1999) was an American journalist, poet, and advocate for the disabled. He has been the subject of two films:
The Sessions was based on his essay, "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate",[1] which appeared in the Sun magazine in 1990. The sex surrogate was Cheryl Cohen-Greene.[2][1] They remained friends until his death.[3]
Personal life
O'Brien contracted
O'Brien was the author of several volumes of poetry, including Breathing, and an autobiography entitled, How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man’s Quest for Independence,[6] written with Gillian Kendall.[7]
O'Brien began seeing a sex surrogate at the age of thirty-eight to lose his virginity. That and the later meeting of him and his life partner, Susan Fernbach,[8] is depicted in the film The Sessions. The sex surrogate was named Cheryl Cohen-Greene.[2][1] They remained friends until his death.[3]
Education
O'Brien received a bachelor's degree in English literature and a master's degree in journalism, both from the University of California, Berkeley.[9]
References
- ^ The Sun Magazine, issue 174. Archived from the originalon 9 May 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ a b Schwarzbaum, Lisa (2012-01-28). "Sundance 2012: 'The Surrogate': A story of sex and the single guy with polio makes for a hot crowd-pleaser of a movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ SFGate.com. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ a b Smith, Wesley J (December 28, 2012). "Mark O'Brien's Triumph (It Wasn't About Sex)". First Things. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ "Mark O'Brien, 49, Journalist And Poet in Iron Lung, Is Dead", The New York Times, July 11, 1999.
- ^ Horn, John (2012-01-22). "Sundance 2012: A 65-year-old takes on disability and sex in 'The Surrogate'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ISBN 978-0-299-18434-6. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ Cinema review.
- ^ Honan, William H. (11 July 1999). "Mark O'Brien, 49, Journalist And Poet in Iron Lung, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
External links
- Mark O'Brien at IMDb
- This American Life - The Drama Bug Act 3, "From the Audience Seats"
- This American Life - Defying Sickness Act 3, "Iron Man"
- Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien
- "Breathing" (poem)
- Mark O'Brien at Poetry Foundation