Inspiration

An obituary from nytimes.com of Erich Segal mentioned that Love Story, his most famous work were inspired by his 2 college roommates in Harvard. Fast forward to the present, those 2 roommates became high profile people on their own right.

The movie Love Story is a 1969 movie that stars Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal. It is based on a book by Erich Segal about a couple from different backgrounds met in college, got married early and defied all obstacles. He is rich but his family shunned him for marrying his college sweetheart. She is poor but strong and opinionated. Together they led a simple life which is very much different from his overpriviledged upbringing. She has guided him in tough times. By the time they went through all obstacles, she was diagnosed with cancer and died. It is very sad but poignant.

The couple during the happy times.

There some talk that the author Erich Segal has patterned the characted of Oliver Barrett from the former ex-VP Al Gore whom one of his roommates at Harvard. He confirmed that the character Oliver was indeed patterned from Al Gore for his overpriviledged upbringing and with his tumultous relationship with his father but he also had the actor Tommy Lee Jones which is also his roommate as the poor and hardened character.

A young Tommy Lee Jones.

Al Gore Photos

How's that for a trivia? I find this all interesting. If you haven't seen this classic movie, go ahead and watch it. The movie was made in 1969, it is still fresh and a classic.