Legendary film critic and entertainment journalist Rex Reed has died at the age of 87. Reed, renowned for his scathing reviews and deep affection for classic Hollywood stars, passed away on Tuesday morning at his Manhattan home following a brief illness, his representative confirmed to THR.
Early Career and Reputation
Reed's brutally honest writing style, combined with his slick appearance and penchant for mingling with Hollywood's elite during the 1960s and 1970s, quickly earned him a reputation as a formidable interviewer. His career spanned decades, with columns and film reviews for the New York Observer from 1987 until his final review of Truth & Treason in November. He also served as an arts critic for the New York Daily News and the New York Post.
Notable Feuds and Controversies
Reed famously clashed with Ava Gardner in 1966 after she took offense at an Esquire profile he wrote about her. He defended his work, stating, "Every word of it is true, and it was written in as flattering a way as it is possible to write something when the subject will not let you ask questions, take notes or give any semblance of a dignified interview. Also, she was completely drunk."
He also sparred with Frank Sinatra, calling him a "Woolworth rhinestone" in a 1974 review of Sinatra's Madison Square Garden concert. Reed wrote, "His public image is uglier than a first-degree burn, his appearance is sloppier than Porky Pig; his manners are more appalling than a subway sandhog's and his ego bigger than the Sahara... the grim truth is that Frank Sinatra has had it." Reed later noted Sinatra was "mad at me, but what did he do? He lost 25 pounds!"
In 1986, Reed claimed Marlee Matlin's Oscar for Children of a Lesser God was due to a "pity vote," arguing that "a deaf person playing a deaf character was not really acting." Further controversy erupted in 1992 when he suggested Marisa Tomei's Oscar for My Cousin Vinny was mistakenly awarded due to presenter Jack Palance reading the wrong name.
Film Career and Later Years
Beyond journalism, Reed appeared in films such as Superman (1978), where he played himself, Inchon (1981), and Irreconcilable Differences (1984). His most notable onscreen role was as Myron, who becomes Myra, in Raquel Welch's film Myra Breckinridge (1970), which featured a sex change dream sequence.
In 2013, Reed sparked outrage by branding Identity Thief star Melissa McCarthy "tractor-sized" and a "female hippo" in his New York Observer review. Critics like Eric Stonestreet and Paul Feig condemned his remarks, but Reed stood by his words, stating, "I object to using health issues like obesity as comedy talking points. ... I don’t find this to be the subject of a lot of humor." He added that the controversy boosted the film's box office.
Reed was openly gay and in 2018 told the New York Times he still hoped to find love despite declining health. He said, "Love is not something that I've been really good at. I think people are intimidated by people with opinions. ... It would be nice, though, to find somebody who's really handy with a wheelchair, because that day is coming."
