Celebrity reactions to the passing Tuesday of author, essayist and filmmaker Nora Ephron looked like a “who’s who” of Hollywood’s elite. Ephron died Tuesday at the age of 71 after a long battle with leukemia.
She was best known for her work as the writer, producer and director of such films as “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle.”
Here are some of the reactions:
“I am very sad to learn of Nora’s passing. She was a brilliant writer and humorist. Being her Harry to Meg’s Sally will always have a special place in my heart. I was very lucky to get to say her words.” – Billy Crystal.
“Nora Ephron was a journalist/artist who knew what was important to know: how things really worked, what was worthwhile, who was fascinating and why. At a dinner table and on a film set she lifted us all with wisdom and wit mixed with love for us and love for life. Rita and I are so very sad to lose our friend who brought so much joy to all who were lucky enough to know her…” – Tom Hanks on behalf of himself and wife Rita Wilson.
“Nora Ephron. The Hostess with the Mostest on the Ball. A brilliant soul, and we will all miss her so….” – Actress Bette Midler via Twitter.
“RIP Nora Ephron brilliant gracious and FUNNY” – Filmmaker Ron Howard via Twitter.
“Nora was a person whose gifts of mind, amply displayed as a young person in her sharply observed journalistic pieces and in her personal wit, were, when I first met her, kind of scary: aimed and airy at the same time, an insouciant sharpness that could be intimidating, because you could never catch her `trying’, everything seemed effortless. But as I got to know her, I understood what drove her was her acute curiosity, and her desire to observe and find out stuff. It’s what made her great as a journalist, and as a director, too.” – Meryl Streep.
Her family released this statement, “Nora Ephron passed away June 26, 2012 at 7:40 p.m. at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center surrounded by her family. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia. She was 71. Donations can be made in her honor to The Public Theater and The Motion Picture and Television Fund. We thank you all for your thoughts.”
