From ABC News comes this sad bit of news: A body found in East River may be that of writer / performer Spalding Gray.

The body was so badly decomposed that the face was unrecognizable. Police reportedly could only say for certain is that the deceased was a white man.

The only piece of clothing that could be identified was a pair of black corduroy pants. When Gray disappeared January 10th, he was wearing black corduroy pants, a gray jacket, blue scarf, brown sweater and brown shoes.

A report from the medical examiner’s office is expected to be back later today.

Witnesses have told police they saw Gray on the Staten Island Ferry the night he disappeared. His wife fears Gray, who reportedly has a history of depression and has attempted suicide before, may have jumped off the boat.

Gray is best known for his monologue films Swimming to Cambodia (1987), Monster in a Box (1992) and Gray’s Anatomy (1996) — all originally performed either in The Performing Garage, Soho, or Lincoln Center in New York, before making their way onto celluloid.

If the drowned man is ultimately identified as Gray (and let’s face it: the chances are pretty good) the world will have lost a first-class raconteur. And there just ain’t many of those to go around.

[update: identity confirmed. RIP, Mr. Gray]