Nathaniel Ayers is a violin prodigy who trained at the Julliard School of Music, but ended up homeless and playing on the streets of Los Angeles after suffering from schizophrenia.
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez chronicled his relationship with Ayers after meeting the musician in downtown L.A. in 2005. Lopez compiled the columns into a book, and the book was adapted into the 2009 film The Soloist, in which Jamie Foxx plays Ayers and Robert Downey Jr. portrays Lopez.Columbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
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Fast Facts
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Born
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Sister
Jennifer Ayers-Moore, the Chairwoman and Founder of the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers FoundationNAAyers.org: The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation (NAAF)
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Fact:
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1908
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2005
LA Times columnist Steve Lopez wrote about his relationship in a series of columnsColumbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
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Lopez's columns were adapted into the bestselling book ''The Soloist
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Fact:
Lopez ran into Ayers near Pershing Square in Los Angeles and began trying to find him help
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Frequented Pershing Square because of the statue of Ludwig van Beethoven there
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Began playing the string bass in junior high playing the sting bass and then learned to play the cello
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Switched to the violin when he became homeless because it was easier to carry around
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His sister claimed the film A Beautiful Mind reminded her of her brother
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Lopez wrote that Ayers cared very little about the money passersby drop in his case
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Ayers refused money from Lopez
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LA Times readers donated instruments to Ayers instruments after reading Lopez's columns
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