PJ O’Rourke dead at 74 – Ex-editor of National Lampoon & beloved journalist mourned for ‘great literary accomplishments’
FORMER Editor of National Lampoon and beloved journalist Partick PJ O'Rourke has died at 74, as the author and satirist is remembered for his "great literary accomplishments."
News of the journalist's death from complications from lung cancer was confirmed by United Talent Agency on Tuesday.
"Our dear friend and cherished Grove Atlantic author P. J. O’Rourke passed away this morning from complications of lung cancer," Deb Seager, vice president and spokeswoman at his publisher, Grove Atlantic, said in a statement.
"A journalist and political satirist, O’Rourke wrote over twenty books on subjects as diverse as politics, cars, etiquette, and economics, including his two #1 New York Times Bestsellers, 'Parliament of Whores' and 'Give War a Chance,'" she added.
O'Rourke's co-host, Peter Sagal, on the NPR game show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!, tweeted: "I'm afraid it's true. Our panelist and my dear friend PJ O'Rourke has passed away."
Writer Drew Cline also affirmed the writer's death, saying: "I just confirmed with PJ’s publicist that it’s true. RIP, my friend. You’ll be deeply, deeply missed. Damnit."
A fixture in journalism, O'Rourke was a regular correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, The American Spectator, and The Weekly Standard.
The 74-year-old was also a frequent panelist on NPR's game show Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! and columnist at The Daily Beast.
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The Toledo, Ohio native received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in 1969 and earned an M.A. in English at Johns Hopkins University a year later.
He joined the National Lampoon in 1973, where he served as editor-in-chief, among other roles.
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O'Rourke wrote 20 books, best known for Holidays in Hell, a collection of his articles as a freelance foreign correspondent, as he examined political concerns such as global warming and famine from a libertarian perspective.
Tributes to the author quickly flooded social media after the news of his death hit the web.
National Review editor Richard Brookhiser wrote: "P.J. O'Rourke and I sat together at the 1988 GOP convention. When Bush41 promised the death penalty for drug kingpins, PJ asked, "Even if the drugs are good, and the prices fair?" R.I.P."
CNN's Jake Tapper said: "My deepest condolences to his family and friends."
A fan of the writer chimed in, saying: "RIP P. J. O’Rourke. So enjoyed our several meetings, not to mention all your great literary accomplishments, not the least of which were for National Lampoon. The world is a lesser place without you."
O'Rourke is survived by his wife Tina, two daughters, Elizabeth and Olivia, and son, Clifford.
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