Craig Taro Gold (born November 1969), known as Taro Gold, is an American author, entertainer, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is the author of several
''New York Times'' best-selling books including ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'' and ''Living Wabi Sabi''.
He is the co-author with
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
of the
Atria Books
Atria may refer to:
Science
*Atrium (heart) (plural: atria), an anatomical structure of the heart
*Atria (genus), a flatworm genus in the family Dendrocoelidae
* Atria (star) or Alpha Trianguli Australis, a star in the constellation Triangulum Aus ...
release ''
Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good''. He is also the co-founder of a number of technology companies including
eVoice
eVoice is a telecommunications service owned by j2 Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:JCOM). The company manages incoming and outgoing calls using virtual phone numbers. The service was initially founded by Wendell Brown, Mark Klein, and Craig Taro Gold in ...
,
Teleo and other business ventures.
Education
Gold attended a
Montessori education
The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing ...
preparatory academy from the age of 2, and
Torrey Pines High School
Torrey Pines High School is a high school in the North County area of San Diego, California. The school is named after the Torrey pine tree that grows in the area. Torrey Pines High School is a member of the San Dieguito Union High School Di ...
in his hometown of
Del Mar, California
Del Mar (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach city in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The population was 3,954 ...
. At age 15, he spent an academic year as an
AFS Intercultural Programs
AFS Intercultural Programs (or AFS, originally the American Field Service) is an international youth exchange organization. It consists of over 50 independent, not-for-profit organizations, each with its own network of volunteers, professional ...
scholar in
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
and
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, Australia.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from
Soka University in Tokyo, Japan, where he studied economics, psychology, and philosophy, graduating ''summa cum laude'' in 1994. Gold earned the distinction of becoming the first American man to graduate from Soka University. His
postgraduate education
Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have ...
included international relations and Spanish at the
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca () is a public university, public research university in Salamanca, Spain. Founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León, King Alfonso IX, it is the oldest university in the Hispanic world and the fourth oldest in the ...
in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, then screenwriting and computer graphics and graphic design at UCLA.
Entertainment career
Gold's career in entertainment began at an early age when he appeared in Broadway musicals as a child. He performed in the first national tour of the Broadway musical ''
Evita'', directed by
Hal Prince
Harold Smith Prince (born Harold Smith; January 30, 1928 – July 31, 2019), commonly known as Hal Prince, was an American theatre director and producer known for his work in musical theatre.
One of the foremost figures in 20th-century theatr ...
, between 1980 and 1982.
At age 12, after more than 700 performances with the show, Gold left the cast.
In 1982, Gold was cast as the lead role of Jason by director
James Lapine
James Elliot Lapine (born January 10, 1949) is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for ''Into the Woods'', ''Falsettos'', and '' Passion''. He ha ...
in the
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
production of the Broadway musical ''
March of the Falsettos
''March of the Falsettos'' is a 1981 musical with book, lyrics, and music by William Finn. It is the second in a trilogy of musicals, preceded by '' In Trousers'' and followed by '' Falsettoland''. ''March of the Falsettos'' and ''Falsettoland'' l ...
''. Gold played the son of Marvin and Trina (played by
Michael Rupert
Michael John Rupert (born October 23, 1951, Denver, Colorado) is an American actor, singer, director and composer. In 1968, he made his Broadway debut in '' The Happy Time'' as Bibi Bonnard for which he received a Tony Award nomination and t ...
and
Melanie Chartoff
Melanie Barbara Chartoff (born December 15, 1948) is an American actress and comedian. Chartoff first became famous for her comedy work on the ABC series '' Fridays'' (1980–1982), and in the 1990s Fox sitcom '' Parker Lewis Can't Lose''. She v ...
). In 1983, Gold won a spot in the original teen troupe of
The Groundlings
The Groundlings is an American improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin, whose improv techniques we ...
, where he studied and performed
improv
Improv may refer to:
*Improvisation, an act of spontaneous invention
**Improvisational theatre (includes improvisational comedy)
**Musical improvisation
Musical improvisation (also known as musical extemporization) is the creative activity of im ...
at Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.
In 1984, he was cast as the starring character of John in the world premiere of the musical ''Peter Pan'' at the
Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
From the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, Gold also worked as voice-over artist for the
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
, as a print model for PUMA sportswear and Versace men's underwear, as an actor in Duncan Hines commercials, and appeared on an
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
television special with
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...
.
In Japan, Gold produced a 14-track solo album titled ''The Diamond You'', which was released in Asia by Virgin Music Japan in 2008. Several tracks from the album appear in Sony PlayStation video games, including ''
Vibes''.
In 2020,
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
selected the title song from Gold's album, titled ''The Diamond You'', for the soundtrack to Turner's memoir ''
Happiness Becomes You''. The soundtrack was published by
Graydon Carter
Edward Graydon Carter, Order of Canada, CM (born July 14, 1949) is a Canadian journalist who was the editor of ''Vanity Fair (magazine), Vanity Fair'' from 1992 until 2017. He also co-founded, with Kurt Andersen and Thomas L. Phillips, Jr., Tom P ...
's ''
Air Mail
Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...
'' digital magazine and on
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
.
Gold executive produced ''Out in the Line-Up'', an independent documentary film following two friends on a global journey to discover the emerging
LGBT
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...
acceptance in international surf culture. The film premiered on February 20, 2014, at the Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival in Australia, where it won the "Best Documentary" audience award. It went on to win "Best Film" at festivals including the 2014 Newport Beach Film Festival and the 2014 San Diego Surf Film Festival, and "Best Documentary" at the 2014 London Film Festival.
In 2021, Gold served as a consultant on the HBO documentary film
''Tina'', about the life of
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
, and in 2022 he produced the short film ''Masaru'', about the challenges of a gay Japanese-American boy growing up between the culture clash of Japanese and American societal expectations. ''Masaru'' was awarded the Best Short Fiction Film award at the 2022
Málaga Film Festival
The Málaga Festival, formerly Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FMCE), is an annual film festival held in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. The festival was established to promote Spanish cinema and help disseminate information about Spanish films. Since ...
in Spain.
Writing career
Gold is a ''New York Times'' best-selling author of numerous books published by
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
. His books have sold more than two million copies and have been published in eleven languages worldwide. His first book, ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'', was released in 2001 and became a perennial best seller that was published in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Hebrew, Japanese, and Korean. The book received a strong endorsement from Arun Gandhi, director of the Gandhi Institute and grandson of
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
, who said of ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'': "This book will enlighten and ennoble the reader." The book's cover was created by Gold and designer Laura Shaw, and its depiction of purple irises became an iconic image of Gold's literary work that later influenced the development of a Taro Gold brand logo.
Gold's book ''Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life'' received a Benjamin Franklin Literary Award and was a recommended read by ''
Time
Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' magazine, featured in a ''Time'' holiday gift guide, and subsequently featured in a ''Time'' article on Asian aesthetic philosophies. In 2018,
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
told ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' that Gold's ''Living Wabi Sabi'' was one of her all-time favorite books of inspiration.
In 2011, British journalist
Marcel Theroux presented "In Search of Wabi Sabi" on
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002 as part of the channel's ''Hidden Japan'' programming, beginning by enacting a challenge from Gold's book ''Living Wabi Sabi'' to "ask people on a Tokyo street to describe Wabi Sabi." Theroux showed that, as Gold predicted, "they will likely give you a polite shrug and explain that Wabi Sabi is simply unexplainable."
Gold's ''What is Love? A Simple Guide to Romantic Happiness'' received a Book of the Year Award from ''ForeWord Reviews''. ''What is Love?'' and Gold's other works have been cited by various authors including in the books ''Even June Cleaver Would Forget The Juice Box'' and ''Wisdom For The Soul''. All of Gold's books have received endorsements and positive reviews from ''
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
''.
Gold has written essays for magazines and newspapers including ''
The Advocate
An advocate is a professional in the field of law.
The Advocate, The Advocates or Advocate may also refer to:
Magazines
* The Advocate (magazine), ''The Advocate'' (magazine), an LGBT magazine based in the United States
* ''The Harvard Advocate' ...
'', the ''World Tribune'', ''
Tricycle: The Buddhist Review'', ''
Parabola
In mathematics, a parabola is a plane curve which is Reflection symmetry, mirror-symmetrical and is approximately U-shaped. It fits several superficially different Mathematics, mathematical descriptions, which can all be proved to define exactl ...
'', and ''
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a Christian lifestyle website featuring editorial content related to the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news, and entertainment.
History
Launched in 1999 by Steven Waldman and Robert Nylen, ...
''. He also served as an associate editor for three years with ''Living Buddhism'', a publication where he was a regular contributor.
In 2022, Gold's dialogue with
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...
,
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Shorter came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary comp ...
, and
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Emily Spalding (born October 18, 1984), sometimes professionally known with the stylized name of esperanza spalding, is an American bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer. Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, a Boston Music Aw ...
was published under the title "The Sounds of Freedom: A dialogue on the poison of racism, the medicine of jazz, and a Buddhist view of life." The dialogue became Wayne Shorter's final published work during his lifetime, and appears in the book "Slavery and Its Consequences," which was edited by
Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr., founding dean of the
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
International Chapel at
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a Private college, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black, Men's colleges in the United States, men's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia, ...
.
Select bibliography
*
Happiness Becomes You (with co-author
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
),
Atria Books
Atria may refer to:
Science
*Atrium (heart) (plural: atria), an anatomical structure of the heart
*Atria (genus), a flatworm genus in the family Dendrocoelidae
* Atria (star) or Alpha Trianguli Australis, a star in the constellation Triangulum Aus ...
(2020)
* ''心を開けば,人生も開く'' (''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'') Japanese language (2012)
* ''侘び寂びを生きる'' (''Living Wabi Sabi'') Japanese language (2010)
* ''לפתוח את הראש, חיים פתוחים'' (''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'') Hebrew language, Focus Publishing (2009)
* ''愛とは?'' (''What Is Love?'') Japanese language (2008)
* ''Ouvrez Votre Esprit à la Vie'' (''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'') French language, ADA Éditions (2008)
* ''Qué es el Amor?'' (''What Is Love?'') Spanish language, Grupo Editorial Panorama (2007)
* ''The Tao of Dad: The Wisdom of Fathers Near and Far'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2006)
* ''The Tao of Mom: The Wisdom of Mothers from East to West'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2005)
* ''Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2004)
* ''Abra Sua Mente, Abra Sua Vida'' (''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'') Portuguese language, Editora Sextante (2004)
* ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life (Box Kit)'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2004)
* ''What Is Love? A Simple Guide to Romantic Happiness'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2003)
* ''오픈 유어 마인드, 오픈 유어 라이프'' (''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life'') Korean language, Jisangsa (2002)
* ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life (Second Volume)'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2002)
* ''Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book Of Eastern Wisdom'',
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...
(2001)
Technology career
Gold has been involved in many business ventures beyond entertainment and writing. His entrepreneurial career began in 2000 when he co-founded the telecommunications company
eVoice
eVoice is a telecommunications service owned by j2 Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:JCOM). The company manages incoming and outgoing calls using virtual phone numbers. The service was initially founded by Wendell Brown, Mark Klein, and Craig Taro Gold in ...
, which provided the world's first large-scale, Internet-enabled voicemail system with products including voicemail-to-email, visual voicemail and enhanced caller ID innovations. These
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as IP telephony, is a set of technologies used primarily for voice communication sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. VoIP enables voice calls to be transmitted as ...
innovations were the foundation for future apps deployed by Google Voice and Apple. During this time, Gold helped innovate a voice recognition technology known as Vodex.
eVoice was acquired by
AOL
AOL (formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City, and a brand marketed by Yahoo! Inc.
The service traces its history to an online ...
in 2001 and became part of the AOL voice services group. The company was then purchased by
j2 Global
J2 Global, Inc. was an American technology holding company based in Los Angeles, California. The company provided Internet services through two divisions: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media.
History
J2 Global was founded in December 199 ...
.
After AOL's acquisition of eVoice, Gold became the founding CEO of Call Forwarding Services (CFS), an internet startup that provided white label VoIP communications services to
AT&T
AT&T Inc., an abbreviation for its predecessor's former name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the w ...
,
MCI Inc.
MCI, Inc. (formerly WorldCom and MCI WorldCom) was a telecommunications company. For a time, it was the second-largest long-distance telephone company in the United States, after AT&T. WorldCom grew largely by acquiring other telecommunicatio ...
and
Qwest
Qwest Communications International, Inc. was a United States telecommunications carrier. Qwest provided local service in 14 western and midwestern U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dako ...
. CFS was acquired by Qwest in 2002.
In 2005, Gold helped launch another communications startup called
Teleo. The company provided a VoIP system enabling desktop and laptop users to send and receive phone calls over the Internet. Teleo was acquired by
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
in 2006 and became part of Microsoft's MSN group.
As a Silicon Valley
angel investor
An angel investor (also known as a business angel, informal investor, angel funder, private investor, or seed investor) is an individual who provides capital to a business or businesses, including startups, usually in exchange for convertible de ...
, Gold has helped raise funds for several successful startup companies including CallCast (acquired by
LiveOps in 2003), and
IronPort (acquired by
Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. (using the trademark Cisco) is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, s ...
in 2007 for US$830 million).
In 2008, Gold ventured into the health and fitness app development market as the founding CEO of WebDiet. The patented technology of WebDiet uses mobile phones to count food consumption and was the first app to count calories and automate meal coaching.
Weight loss company
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is a commercial provider of weight loss products and services headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
Company history
Nutrisystem's initial product in 1972 was a liquid protein diet, but the company changed its offering a ...
used WebDiet's technology.
In 2014, Gold helped launch Vusay, a social media platform that made
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
and other online videos more interactive and viral, allowing users to add comments that highlight specific moments in videos, then seamlessly share them on
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
and
Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
.
In 2016, Gold became an advisory board member of Averon, which develops cybersecurity solutions and artificial intelligent applications.
Philanthropy
Gold's philanthropic activities have included private sponsorship of underprivileged students in Asia and South America. He is also a long-time supporter of
the Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicide prevention efforts for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, they offer a toll-free telephone number where con ...
, founded in 1998 by his friend
Celeste Lecesne
James Celeste Lecesne (born November 24, 1954) is an American actor, author, screenwriter, and LGBT rights activist, best known for the Academy-award-winning short film ''Trevor.'' Lecesne has written several books including ''Absolute Brightness ...
. Profits from a Taro Gold
CafePress
CafePress, Inc. is an American online retailer of a wide range of consumer items, including clothing, home decor, drinkware, stationery, gifts, and user- customized on-demand items. The company was founded in San Mateo, California, but is now he ...
"Diamond You" shop benefited The Trever Project from 2002 to 2017. In 2005, Gold endowed a named scholarship at
Soka University of America
Soka University of America (SUA) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Aliso Viejo, California. Originally founded in 1987, it was established on its current campus in 2001 by Daisaku ...
called "The Rainbow Family Fund" for LGBT students and families.
Gold has been a Patron Circle member of the
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by actor Robert Redford committed to the growth of independent artists. The institute is driven by its programs that discover and support independent filmmakers, theatre artists and compo ...
and
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
since 2006, and of Sundance London since 2013.
Personal life
Gold states that he has maintained a vegan diet since age five, when his mother adopted
veganism
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a vega ...
; practices
yoga
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
; and supports
animal rights
Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...
. During his childhood, high school, and university years, he lived on four continents including
Del Mar, California
Del Mar (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach city in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The population was 3,954 ...
, in North America;
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, Japan, in Asia;
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
and
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
in Australia; and
Salamanca
Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...
, Spain, in Europe.
Gold's eldest cousin is world champion aerobatic aviator
Sean D. Tucker
Sean Doherty Tucker (born April 27, 1952) is an American world champion aerobatic aviator. He was previously sponsored by the Oracle Corporation for many years, performing in air shows worldwide as "Team Oracle". Tucker has won numerous air sho ...
.
Gold is married to American computer scientist and entrepreneur
Wendell Brown
Wendell Brown is an American computer scientist, entrepreneur and inventor best known for his innovations in telecommunications and Internet technology, cybersecurity, and smartphone app development. Brown has founded multiple notable technol ...
.
A 2014 ''
Vogue Japan
''Vogue'' (stylized in all caps), also known as American ''Vogue'', is a monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine that covers style news, including haute couture fashion, beauty, culture, living, and runway. It is part of the global collection of ...
'' story on celebrity life in Tokyo noted that Gold lived in the luxury Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel atop the
Shinjuku Park Tower
The is the second-tallest building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
History
It was designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1994.
The building is owned and managed by Tokyo Gas Urban Development, a subsidiary of Tokyo Gas, and was constructed on the s ...
from 2006 to 2008.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gold, Craig Taro
1969 births
Living people
21st-century American male writers
21st-century American non-fiction writers
American Buddhists
American gay writers
American LGBTQ businesspeople
American LGBTQ rights activists
American male film actors
American male musical theatre actors
American male non-fiction writers
American male stage actors
American spiritualists
American spiritual writers
American writers of Japanese descent
IronPort people
Jewish American male actors
Jewish American non-fiction writers
Gay Buddhists
Members of Sōka Gakkai
New Age spiritual leaders
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American Nichiren Buddhists
Sōka University alumni
Buddhism and Judaism