Al Weisel

{{Short description|American writer (1963–2010)}}

Al Weisel (July 18, 1963 – February 27, 2010) was an American freelance writer who lived in New York City.{{cite news |title=G.O.P. Ends Calls Linking Some Clinton Donors to Terrorism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/30/nyregion/gop-ends-calls-linking-some-clinton-donors-to-terrorism.html |work=The New York Times |date=2000-10-30 |accessdate=2008-04-22 | first=Randal C. | last=Archibold}}

Weisel graduated from Columbia University in 1987.{{Cite web |title=Columbia College Today |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/jan06/bookshelf1.html |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=www.college.columbia.edu}} He wrote for Rolling Stone,{{cite news |title=Natalie Merchant Steps Back From Rock's Cutting Edge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/23/arts/architecture-natalie-merchant-steps-back-from-rock-s-cutting-edge.html |work=The New York Times |date=1995-07-23 |accessdate=2008-04-22 }} The Washington Post, New York Newsday, and Us Magazine.{{cite news |title=Rebel Reflections |url=http://www.filmstew.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ContentID=12495 |work=FilmStew |date=2005-10-05 |accessdate=2008-04-22 }} He also wrote for Premiere, Spin, Tracks, George, Travel & Leisure, Out, Time Out New York, and the Bulletin (Australia). From 1999 to 2002 he was the Movies Editor at CDNow where he launched the video/DVD section.

In October 2005, he published Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause ({{ISBN|0-7432-9618-4}}), a book he co-authored with Larry Frascella,{{cite news |title='Live Fast, Die Young,' by Lawrence Frascella and Al Weisel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/08/books/review/08zacharak.html |work=The New York Times |date=2006-01-08 |accessdate=2008-04-22 | first=Stephanie | last=Zacharek}}; Al Weisel and Larry Frascella, Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause (Touchstone, 2005), {{ISBN|0-7432-9618-4}} which explores the making of the film Rebel Without a Cause and in particular the relationships between director Nicholas Ray and leading actors James Dean{{cite news|title=New and noteworthy paperbacks |url=http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/144588 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910150425/http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/144588 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-10 |work=The Roanoke Times |date=2008-04-22 |accessdate=2008-04-22 }} and Natalie Wood. He authored a satirical political blog under the pseudonym Jon Swift. There he wrote: "I am a reasonable conservative who likes to write about politics and culture. Since the media is biased I get all my news from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Jay Leno monologues."Blogspot: [http://jonswift.blogspot.com/ Jon Swift], accessed January 5, 2011

He died on February 27, 2010 after suffering a severe stroke while undergoing surgery for an aortic dissection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/al_weisel_blogger_jon_swift_dead_at_46/|title = Al Weisel, Blogger 'Jon Swift', Dead at 46|date = 4 March 2010}}