Rex Reed: key obituary facts
Is Rex Reed dead? Yes. Rex Reed died on May 12, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Rex Reed's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Rex Reed known for?
He was known as American film critic (1938–2026).
More about Rex Reed
Born: 2 October 1938.
Place of birth: Fort Worth.
Place of death: New York City.
Gender: male.
Occupation: actor, film actor, journalist, film critic, art critic.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Louisiana State University.
Career began: 1967.
Career ended: 2025.
Also known as: Rex Taylor Reed.
Years active: 1967–2025.
Rex Reed, an American film critic and journalist, died on May 12, 2026, at age 87.
Born Rex Taylor Reed on Oct. 2, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas, he was raised throughout the American South and educated at Louisiana State University.
He moved to New York City in the early 1960s and wrote about popular culture, art and celebrities for newspapers and magazines. Reed later became a public figure through regular television appearances and occasional film roles in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a longtime writer for The New York Observer, where he wrote the “Talk of the Town” column, and authored eight books.
Rex Reed, 87, American film critic and journalist.