Ocean City’s Gay Talese inductee for N.J. Hall of Fame

Ocean City's Gay Talese is among the 18 inductees this year for the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Talese, 92, an author and journalist, was selected in the category of “Arts & Letters.” Inductees are chosen for their accomplishments in six categories, including Education & Science and Enterprise, Performing Arts & Entertainment, Public Service, Sports and Enterprise.

Talese was born in Ocean City, the son of Italian immigrant parents, and is a 1949 graduate of Ocean City High School.

He is an acclaimed writer. As a journalist for The New York Times and Esquire magazine during the 1960s, Talese helped to define contemporary literary journalism and is considered, along with Tom Wolfe, Joan Didion and Hunter S. Thompson, one of the pioneers of New Journalism, according to Wikipedia.

Some of his notable works are “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,” “Honor Thy Father” and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife.”

Among other inductees were actress Meryl Streep, actor Paul Rudd, former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, John Forbes Nash, a mathematician awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for economics, and Warren Littlefield, the NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld.”

“The 2024 class of Inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame illustrate the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit,” Jon F. Hanson, chairman of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of 18 new Inductees so future generations can learn about their journeys.”

The New Jersey Hall of Fame honors residents who have made invaluable contributions to society, the state and the world since 2008. This will be the 16th ceremony the organization has hosted for more than 230 notable individuals and groups that have received the accolade, according to a news release.

The inductees were selected from 50 nominees after a public vote.

The ceremony will be aired on social media and Fox5/My9 starting Nov. 13.