As today’s New York Times notes, J.D. Salinger turns 90 on Thursday. Because the author is a major recluse (or just a really tired old guy) who has holed himself up in rural New Hampshire, there will be no big public celebration, but no matter. Even if he has decided to go out like a Garbot, Salinger’s works — particularly The Catcher in the Rye, which is funny because we’ve always preferred Franny and Zooey — have dominated popular culture for over 50 years now, from earning mentions on Gilmore Girls to inspiring entire books by other noted authors.
After the jump a roundup of the films, songs, and noted personalities (Salingerologists?) who have paid homage to Catcher. Add anything we’ve missed in the comments, please.
Films we like that The Catcher in the Rye has appeared in: Tropic Thunder Wedding Crashers The Good Girl Kicking and Screaming (Noah Baumbach’s, not the one with Will Ferrell) Singles
Songs that reference Holden Caulfield or The Catcher in the Rye in their lyrics: Beastie Boys, “Shadrach” Belle & Sebastian, “Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie” Green Day, “Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?” Screeching Weasel, “I Wrote Holden Caulfield” Komeda, “Catcher”
Random celebrities who list The Catcher in the Rye as one of their favorite books: Paula Danziger Eddie George Molly Ivins Rosie O’Donnell Rob Reiner Winona Ryder