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By around 1980, Alan Abel's hoaxes had made him a little famous.

And Gene says there were conversations about making a movie about his life.

When Alan went to meet with some producers about selling the rights to his life story, he ended up in an elevator with people who were talking about him.

They didn't recognize who he was.

So Alan decided to fake his own death.

He came up with a story that he died in Utah at a ski resort.

He got in touch with some trusted friends to help him pull it off.

The funeral director would corroborate his story when the newspaper called.

Allen submitted news of his death to the New York Times, which published its obituary on January 2, 1980, with the headline, Allen Abel, satirist, created campaign to clothe animals.

It read, he was 50 years old and lived in Manhattan and Westport, Connecticut.

Mr. Abel made a point in his work of challenging the obvious and uttering the outrageous.

In addition to his wife, he survived by a daughter, Jennifer.

Alan hadn't told Jean about the plan to fake his own death.

Jenny was seven years old, and Alan didn't tell her either.

Jean says Alan eventually called to say he was alive, but she doesn't remember exactly when.

Did you have to confirm to anyone?