Michael Heaton, the brother of actress Patricia Heaton and a longtime writer and columnist for the Plain Dealer, died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, September 19, 2022. He was 66 years old. His cause of death has not been revealed by the authorities or his family. Heaton was best known for his witty and insightful columns as the “Minister of Culture” for the Cleveland-based newspaper, where he covered topics ranging from music and movies to sports and politics. He also wrote several books, including a memoir titled “Truth and Justice for Fun and Profit: Collected Reporting”.
A Brilliantly Kind and Funny Man
Heaton’s death shocked and saddened many of his colleagues, friends, and fans, who took to social media to pay tribute to him. His sister Patricia, who starred in popular sitcoms like “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle”, shared a link to an interview he did with Dee Perry on WCPN in 2012, where he talked about his life and career. She wrote: “I’m still processing the fact that I will never see or speak to my brother again in this lifetime; so for now here’s a beautiful interview of this very excellent human being.”
Mike McIntyre, a former Plain Dealer reporter and editor who now works for ideastream, also shared the same interview on Twitter and wrote: “Tune in to the @soundofideas around 9:45 this a.m. for a tribute to @MichaelHeaton5 and a replay of his interview with Dee Perry.” He added: “Michael Heaton was one of my favorite people in the world. A great writer, a great friend, a great human being. I will miss him terribly.”
Henry J. Gomez, a national political correspondent for BuzzFeed News and a former Plain Dealer reporter, praised Heaton’s talent and generosity. He tweeted: “Michael Heaton was such a brilliantly kind and funny man and generous colleague and the world is, without question, worse without him. RIP, Minister.”
Many other journalists, celebrities, and readers expressed their condolences and appreciation for Heaton’s work. Some of them shared their favorite columns or stories by him, while others recalled their personal interactions with him.
A Legacy of Culture and Humor
Heaton was born in Cleveland in 1956, the son of Chuck Heaton, a legendary sportswriter who worked for the Plain Dealer for 50 years, and Patricia Hurd Heaton, a homemaker who died when he was 14. He had four siblings: Alice, Sharon, Patricia, and Frances.
He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1974 and attended John Carroll University for two years before dropping out to pursue his passion for writing. He started his career as a freelance writer for various publications, including Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Playboy. He also worked as a scriptwriter for Hollywood movies such as “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “The Paper”.
He joined the Plain Dealer in 1987 as a features writer and soon became a popular columnist with his “Minister of Culture” persona. He wrote about everything from local events and personalities to national and international issues with humor, insight, and flair. He also interviewed many celebrities, such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, and Oprah Winfrey.
He wrote nearly 1,500 columns for the Plain Dealer over three decades until he retired in 2018. He also continued to write books, such as “The Best of the Minister of Culture”, “Good-Looking Is Disgusting”, and “Mike Heaton’s Greatest Hits”. He also co-authored a cookbook with his sister Patricia called “Patricia Heaton’s Food for Family and Friends”.
He was married twice and had two children: Charlie and Nora. He lived in Lakewood with his girlfriend Mary Anne Sharkey.
Heaton was a beloved figure in the Cleveland community and beyond. He was known for his kindness, generosity, humor, and love of culture. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, readers, and fans.
