Rex Reed: Critic's Acidic Wit Silenced at 87

Esteemed film critic Rex Reed has passed away at 87. He died Tuesday at his Manhattan residence. Known for his sharp, often controversial takes on cinema and celebrities, Reed first gained recognition in the 1960s. He was part of a wave of critics who adopted a more vibrant, jazz-influenced style of writing.

Reed's career spanned decades, with his writings appearing in The New York Times, GQ, Esquire, and Vogue. He authored candid profiles of numerous stars and his books, including "Do You Sleep in the Nude?", showcased his penetrating insights. For over forty years, he also penned a column for the New York Observer, where his opinions often ignited public discourse.

His career was marked by numerous controversial remarks, including comments about Marlee Matlin's Oscar win and dismissive reviews of films like "Oldboy." Reed himself acknowledged his criticism could be viewed as harsh but stated his intention was to "raise the level of consciousness" and encourage audiences to see good films.

Beyond his writing, Reed also ventured into acting, appearing in "Myra Breckinridge" and making guest appearances on television shows like "The Dick Cavett Show" and "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, where he shared his unvarnished views on Hollywood.