Ryan Harrison Leone (August 3, 1985 – July 2, 2022)[1] was an American author and writer. He was best known for his semi-autobiographical addiction novel Wasting Talent.
Ryan Leone | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Leone in 2019 | |
| Born | August 3, 1985 Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2022 (aged 36) Sun Valley, California, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Genre | Transgressive fiction |
| Notable works | Wasting Talent |
| Partner | Karina Franco |
Biography
editCareer
editBased on his experiences, Leone wrote his first novel while serving a five-year federal prison sentence for his involvement with an international heroin cartel called The Mendoza Clan. The Mendoza Clan was an Oaxacan Indian family that operated a heroin ring out of Mexico and reportedly smuggled millions of dollars worth of drugs into the United States for over two decades.[2] Leone sold the film rights to William De Los Santos, screenwriter and producer of the addiction film Spun.[3]
In the January/February 2018 issue of Penthouse magazine, De Los Santos said, "It captivated me with the poetry in how he told the story." when asked what attracted him to Leone's debut novel.[4] Bret Easton Ellis, author of American Psycho, reviewed the book favorably on his podcast.
Idiot Savant: The Savage Life of Ryan Leone, a documentary about Leone's drug addiction and violent lifestyle went into production in the fall of 2017. Jim Uhls screenwriter of Fight Club, had expressed his desire to be involved in the production of the film.[5][6]
In 2018, Leone launched a non-profit organization called The Prodigy Foundation, in an effort to end mass incarceration and expand literacy in American prisons.[7]
Leone released a comedy album of spoken word stories in 2020 called Drug Stories for Truckers: Volume One. The satirical album chronicles Leone’s emotional breakdown between his second and third prison term. The album featured guest appearances from a number of his well known friends including Johnny Depp, Tommy Chong, Nick Stahl, "Freeway" Rick Ross, Simon Rex, and George Jung.[8]
Death
editOn July 2, 2022, news broke of the 36-year-old's death. News of his death broke online which followed with a slew of tributes to the late activist. It was confirmed by Ryan Leone’s fiancée Karina Franco. He was admitted to hospital a few days prior and was suffering from a number of health issues stemming from a broken finger and pneumonia.
On June 29 Leone had posted on Instagram "I broke my finger. Then, completely unrelated, I went to the hospital twice in a week. First time they told me I had pneumonia. I got a second opinion. No pneumonia. This is respiratory and gastrointestinal issues stemming from being on way too much Methadone 170 mgs!! My stomach becomes so bloated it feels like some rapid ever-expanding Willy Wonka inflated sanction." He went on about a rap project he was hoping to attend and concluded his post with the statement: "I need to stop being so reckless. I’m a dad now. Amen."[1]
The Los Angeles County medical examiner confirmed however that cause of death was fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication."Case Detail". Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
Works
edit- Wasting Talent (2014) novel
- Drug Stories For Truckers: Volume I (2020)
- AntiHeros - The ballad of Mikey May (posthumous release 2023)
References
edit- ^ a b "Prison reform activist Ryan Leone passes away after sudden hospital stay". The Focus. July 3, 2022.
- ^ Winton, Richard; Quinones, Sam (March 25, 2009). "Family members allegedly ran heroin smuggling ring". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Williams, Kidman (October 30, 2017). "How an Ex-con Kicked Heroin and Became An International Drug, Sex, and Literary Icon". Gonzo Today.
- ^ Ferranti, Seth (2018). "From Ex Con to Bestseller: The Tortured Life of Ryan Leone". Penthouse. No. January/February PRINT.
- ^ Ferranti, Seth (December 2017). "From Ex-Con to Bestselling Author: TheTortured Life of An Outlaw Writer". No. January/February 2018. Penthouse Magazine.
- ^ Ferranti, Seth (October 19, 2017). "Fight Club Screenwriter to Explore Outlaw Author's Tortured Life in New Doc". Huffington Post.
- ^ Kerman, Matt (November 30, 2017). "Fighting Addiction, Pushing Prison Reform: Ryan Leone Tries Turning Around Life of Crime and Drug Problems Lobero Fundraiser". Santa Barbara Independent.
- ^ Williams, Kidman (January 7, 2020). "Johnny Depp and Tommy Chong Lend Voices for Audiobook by Ryan Leone". Gonzo Today.