Rex Reed, contrarian film critic who perfected the skewering celebrity interview, dies at 87
Key takeaways
- Rex Reed, the longtime movie critic and celebrity interviewer known for his contrarian attitude and eloquent, vicious jabs of his pen, died Tuesday.
- The journalist died at his Manhattan home after a short illness, publicist Sean Katz told the Associated Press on behalf of Reed’s friend William Kapfer.
- Reed was nothing if not consistent in his swipes at acclaimed actors and directors alike — the newer the acclaim, the more likely the criticism.
Movie critic Rex Reed, seen in 2005 in New York City, has died at age 87. (Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images) By Christie D’Zurilla Assistant Editor, Fast Break Desk Follow May 12, 2026 1:15 PM PT 8 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Rex Reed, the longtime movie critic and celebrity interviewer known for his contrarian attitude and eloquent, vicious jabs of his pen, died Tuesday. He was 87.
The journalist died at his Manhattan home after a short illness, publicist Sean Katz told the Associated Press on behalf of Reed’s friend William Kapfer. Reed died in his sleep, according to his New York Observer editor, Merin Curotto.