Petarkco
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I thought I might pass on this information from Reddit, if anybody can help:
"I've been working on a book about Michael Jackson's visits to and influence on Sydney for the last two years or so. I am dedicating a chapter to the story of Richard Blackie, the eccentric toy shop owner who tragically took his own life in 2006. He was a former MJ impersonator and had even undergone surgery to look like him.
Here is his SMH obituary: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tragic-toy-storys-final-chapter/2006/09/08/1157222308502.html
He's also the subject of a documentary, 'Richard', made by then 16-year-old filmmaker Maya Newell who befriended him in the year before his death. I've pieced together most of what's publicly known about him in what I've written so far. It's a beautiful but very sad story and the parallel's with MJ's own life are striking.
Richard was clearly a very private person so I was initially reluctant to probe around his life too much. However, I have been in touch with Maya who approved what I've written so far and encouraged me to reach out to people who knew him for stories of his kindness and eccentricities. As he had no known relatives, I take this as a kind of blessing from his next of kin.
If you ever met him at his Antique Toy Trading Company in Petersham I'd love to hear stories, either PM, in the thread or email me at artrush@gmail.com."
https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/2s4amc/looking_for_people_who_metknew_richard_blackie/
"I've been working on a book about Michael Jackson's visits to and influence on Sydney for the last two years or so. I am dedicating a chapter to the story of Richard Blackie, the eccentric toy shop owner who tragically took his own life in 2006. He was a former MJ impersonator and had even undergone surgery to look like him.
Here is his SMH obituary: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tragic-toy-storys-final-chapter/2006/09/08/1157222308502.html
He's also the subject of a documentary, 'Richard', made by then 16-year-old filmmaker Maya Newell who befriended him in the year before his death. I've pieced together most of what's publicly known about him in what I've written so far. It's a beautiful but very sad story and the parallel's with MJ's own life are striking.
Richard was clearly a very private person so I was initially reluctant to probe around his life too much. However, I have been in touch with Maya who approved what I've written so far and encouraged me to reach out to people who knew him for stories of his kindness and eccentricities. As he had no known relatives, I take this as a kind of blessing from his next of kin.
If you ever met him at his Antique Toy Trading Company in Petersham I'd love to hear stories, either PM, in the thread or email me at artrush@gmail.com."
https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/2s4amc/looking_for_people_who_metknew_richard_blackie/