Ocean City's Gay Talese To Be Inducted Into New Jersey Hall Of Fame

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Acclaimed author, journalist and Ocean City native Gay Talese is set to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2024, according to a news release.

Talese is one of 18 inductees in this year's class, which includes famous actors Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, late singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, Jersey Mike's founder Peter Cancro and more.

"The 2024 class of Inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame illustrate the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit," said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the NJHOF. "We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of 18 new Inductees so future generations can learn about their journeys."

Born and raised by Italian immigrants in Ocean City, Talese got his start writing sports stories for his hometown paper, the Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. He's the only inductee in the "Arts & Letters" category.

Today, at 92, Talese is best known as one of the pioneers of the "New Journalism" movement, an at the time unconventional style of reporting, along with Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson and Joan Didion.

Talese's most popular works include "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," a profile of the singer written for Esquire in 1966 considered to be one of the greatest celebrity profiles in history, and "The Silent Season of a Hero," also written for Esquire in 1966 about Joe DiMaggio.

He and the other inductees will be honored at the 16th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The pre-taped television special will be shot on location at the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream and other Hall of Fame satellite exhibits. It will air beginning Nov. 13 on Fox 5 My9 and social media. See the full list of this year's inductees here.