Ian Halperin
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| Born | (1964-08-17) August 17, 1964 (age 59) |
| Website | ianundercover |
Ian Halperin (born August 17, 1964)[1] is a Canadian investigative journalist, writer and documentary filmmaker. His 2009 book, Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson was a #1 best-seller on the New York Times list on July 24, 2009.[2] He is the author or coauthor of nine books including Celine Dion: Behind the Fairytale, Fire and Rain: The James Taylor Story and Hollywood Undercover. He coauthored Who Killed Kurt Cobain? and Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain with Max Wallace. Halperin has contributed to 60 Minutes II and was a regular correspondent for Court TV.[3][4] He is a graduate of Concordia UniversityinMontreal (BA 07).
In late 2008 The Sun and In Touch Weekly cited Halperin as the source in articles stating that Michael Jackson had serious health issues.[5] In December 2008 Halperin had predicted that Jackson had six months to live;[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Jackson died on June 25, 2009.[12] At the time, the BBC reported that Halperin would release an unauthorized biography on the pop star.[13] Halperin's statements had been denied by a Jackson representative who said in a December 2008 statement, "The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication...Mr. Jackson is in fine health and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company & television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances."[14][15] Shortly afterward, Jackson announced a 50-date residencyatthe O2 Arena, holding a public press conference.[16][17][18][19] Halperin released his biography on Jackson, titled Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson, in July 2009.[5] Halperin commented on the timing of the book: "I timed it because I knew around this time he was a candidate to die. I'm being totally up-front about that. Google it."[5]
In 2010, Halperin directed and produced a documentary film about Jackson titled Gone Too Soon. It premiered on the TV Guide Network on June 25, 2010, the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death. The documentary was based on 300 hours of footage Halperin recorded before and immediately after Jackson's death.[20]
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