Author Hubert Selby Jr dies at 75

The author made cameos in both film adaptations of his books

Hubert Selby Jr, the acclaimed author of Last Exit to Brooklyn and Requiem for a Dream, has died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 75.

The author, who had been in and out of hospital in recent weeks, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Hailed as one of the greatest American writers, Selby died peacefully on Monday with Suzanne, his wife of 35 years, by his bedside.

He is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren.

Childhood illness

Born in New York City in 1928, Selby made his first foray into literature on his return home from World War II.

The author contracted tuberculosis as a child, a problem that was exacerbated while serving at sea during the war.

It was while he was recuperating, having been sent home from the marines, that Selby produced his debut novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn.

A brutal tale set in 1950s Brooklyn, it dwelt on a world inhabited by prostitutes, gangs and transvestites. Published in 1964, it won Selby instant recognition.

'Hellish bombshell'

Poet Allen Ginsberg predicted it would "explode like a rusty hellish bombshell over America and still be eagerly read in a hundred years".

"It was a seminal piece of work. It broke so many traditions," said Jim Regan, a professor at the University of Southern California (USC) where Selby taught for the past 20 years.

"There was that generation of writers: William Burroughs, Henry Miller, and there was Hubert Selby. And he's one of the last of that generation, of some of the greatest writers in this country," said Mr Regan.

Selby's subsequent works included The Room (1971), The Demon (1976) and Requiem for a Dream (1978). His most recent work, Waiting Period, was published in 2002.

His novels were said to be dark but he was so lively and loving, as a human being he was totally different Jim Regan

Both Last Exit to Brooklyn and Requiem for a Dream were later made into films.

Last Exit to Brooklyn, directed by Udi Edel and starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, was released in 1989. Bleak and unrelenting, it proved a cult hit.

Cult films

Requiem for a Dream, on which Selby shared a screenwriting credit, won Ellen Burstyn a best actress Oscar nomination in 2000.

A harrowing tale of addiction, Requiem for a Dream reflected Selby's own struggle with substance abuse, having become addicted to morphine during his tuberculosis treatment.

In recent years, Selby continued to work on screenplays and teach at USC. His wife claimed he was often depressed and suffered violent rages, but never when he was writing.

"His novels were said to be dark but he was so lively and loving, as a human being he was totally different. He was so wonderful," said Mr Regan.