Nora Ephron Dies at Age 71

Essayist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and director Nora Ephron died Tuesday, June 26 at the age of 71. The New York Times has reported that the cause of death was pneumonia brought on by acute myeloid leukemia.

Although often remembered for her work as a screenwriter for such movies as When Harry Met Sally…, Sleepless in Seattle, and Julie & Julia, Ephron was also an accomplished essayist and novelist whose books included I Feel Bad About My Neck, I Remember Nothing, and Heartburn. Her warmth and wisdom was on full display in these books—for a taste, visit the Reading Group Center, where we collected a few of her bon mots in celebration of the paperback publication of I Remember Nothing.

Since her death was reported, there has been an outpouring of remembrances around the Internet. Sara Nelson wrote a wonderful post about Ephron on Amazon’s Omnivoracious blog. People.com has collected reactions from some of Ephron’s celebrity collaborators. The Associated Press recalled Ephron’s trailblazing ways in the male-dominated filmmaking industry. And at the Huffington Post, contributors weighed in on Ephron’s legacy. Plus, click here to read her 1996 Wellesley Commencement address.