Remembering Rex Reed: Celebrated Film Critic, Storyteller, and ‘Myra Breckinridge’ Star Passes Away at 87

Rex Reed, a prominent figure in film criticism since the 1960s, passed away on May 12 at his Manhattan home following a brief illness. He was 87 years old. His death was confirmed by close friend William Kapfer, who shared that Reed died “surrounded by his closest loved ones.”

Reed was known for his sharply written film reviews and celebrity profiles, contributing to renowned publications such as The New York Times, GQ, Esquire, and Vogue. In recent years, he wrote for the New York Observer, establishing himself as a familiar presence on talk shows during the 1960s and ’70s, where his wit and candor earned him admiration from hosts like Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett.

His quotes often balanced admiration with harsh criticism. In a 1968 review, Reed lauded Bette Davis’s enduring appeal, stating she made contemporary youth idols seem “about as interesting as a withered logarithm.” He described Broadway star Gwen Verdon as a rarity, noting she was “rare as blue butterflies, who carry around their own lightning.”

However, Reed’s critiques were not always complimentary. He once remarked that “if there is anything more excruciating than sitting through a Michelangelo Antonioni film, it’s sitting through a Michelangelo Antonioni interview.” His candid observations about figures like Peter Lawford and Ava Gardner frequently prompted backlash, including a notable dispute with Frank Sinatra over Reed’s comment that daughter Nancy Sinatra resembled a “pizza waitress.”

Reed’s writings were compiled in several books, the first being the provocatively titled Do You Sleep in the Nude?, showcasing his talent for eliciting intriguing responses from his subjects.

Even later in his career, Reed maintained his biting style at the New York Observer, where his remarks often reflected a bygone era when personal jabs were more acceptable. He controversially attributed a “pity vote” to Marlee Matlin’s Oscar win for Children of a Lesser God and described Melissa McCarthy as “tractor-sized” and a “hippo.”

During his attempt at acting in the ill-fated 1970 film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel Myra Breckinridge, Reed faced the ire of those he had critiqued. Although he appeared in other films afterward, it was Breckinridge that drew significant attention, often landing on lists of the worst films ever made. Time magazine characterized it as “an insult to intelligence, an affront to sensibility and an abomination to the eye.” Reed and co-star Raquel Welch were harshly criticized for their portrayal of the same character pre- and post-gender-affirming surgery.

In a reflection of his discerning standards, Reed later described Myra Breckinridge as “a train wreck.”