Rex Reed, outspoken film critic and At the Movies cohost, dies at 87
Rex Reed, the infamously quick-witted and often barb-tongued film critic, who panned and praised the movies across six decades, has died. He was 87.
ew.comHere’s the latest on Rex Reed as of May 2026.
Key update
- Rex Reed, the outspoken film critic and former TV/radio personality, has died at age 87 after a brief illness. His death was reported by multiple outlets in early May 2026. [sources: Entertainment Weekly, CBS News, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and The Associated Press-style outlets cite similar timelines]
Context and notable details
- Reed was known for his caustic, no-nonsense style and long career spanning The New York Daily News, The New York Observer, and appearances on television programs including The Gong Show and various talk formats.
- He faced controversy over remarks about several film stars in the 1990s and 2000s but remained a prominent, if polarizing, figure in entertainment journalism.
- In addition to criticism, Reed acted in a handful of projects earlier in his career, including a role in Myra Breckinridge, among others.
What this means for coverage
- Expect obituaries and retrospectives highlighting his influence on film criticism, his party-line reframing of certain industry conversations, and reminders of his most quotable lines.
- Major outlets published obituaries and tributes in the days following the announcement, noting his decades-long impact on entertainment journalism.
If you’d like, I can pull a concise, cited timeline of his career highlights and the reactions from editors and peers, or compile a quick comparison of how different outlets framed his career.