Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nora Ephron, known for romantic comedies “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” has died in New York at age 71 after battling leukemia, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The New York Times cited her son, Jacob Bernstein, as saying Ephron died of pneumonia brought about by acute myeloid leukemia. Bernstein is a freelance reporter for the Times.
A spokeswoman for her agency, Los Angeles-based Creative Artists Agency, declined to comment on the reports. Nicholas Latimer, a spokesman at publishing company Random House, told Reuters Ephron was “gravely ill.”
He could not confirm reports that she had died, which also was reported by The Washington Post and show business newspaper Daily Variety.
Ephron, also known for the screenplay “Julie & Julia,” which she also directed, had not publicly addressed suffering from any illness in recent months.
During a long career, Ephron has written for newspapers and magazines. She published books and essays, but is perhaps best known for her work in movies.
She was nominated for three Academy Awards for writing “Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Silkwood.”
Erroneous reports that Nora Ephron has died are posting on the Internet now so Deadline has just been asked to set the record straight. Yes, the famed 71-year-old writer-director-author is very ill but she wanted this to remain a private matter. And Deadline agreed to keep this confidential since we don’t report on showbiz personal lives. We continue to try to respect her wishes.
