A prolific American screenwriter, librettist, and playwright Terrence McNally passed away. The writer, who was suffering from Coronavirus, died on Tuesday in a hospital in Florida. He was 81. The writer had been bestowed with prestigious Tony and Emmy awards. In a statement sent to AFP, McNally’s publicist said that the renowned director was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Terrence McNally, an openly gay writer, had written about subjects like love, homophobia and AIDS. His notable plays included Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, along with the musicals Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.
Soon after the news of his death surfaced on the Internet, Hollywood actors took to Twitter to pay condolence on social media. Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame wrote, “From one of Terrence McNally great musicals, which is also my favorite Kander & Ebb musical, The Visit: Watching @Chita_Rivera dance with her younger self was one of the most dizzying, heartbreaking highs I’ve had in a theater ever.” Another tweet read, “Heartbroken over the loss of Terrence McNally, a giant in our world, who straddled plays and musicals deftly. Grateful for his staggering body of work and his unfailing kindness.
Heartbroken over the loss of Terrence McNally, a giant in our world, who straddled plays and musicals deftly. Grateful for his staggering body of work and his unfailing kindness.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 24, 2020
From one of Terrence McNally great musicals, which is also my favorite Kander & Ebb musical, The Visit:
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 24, 2020
Watching @Chita_Rivera dance with her younger self was one of the most dizzying, heartbreaking highs I’ve had in a theater ever. https://t.co/QaJmshd5TS
British actor and comedian James Corden tweeted, “He was an absolute gentleman and his commitment to the theater was unwavering. He will be missed by so many of us.”
Saddened to hear of the passing of Terrence McNally. He was an absolute gentleman and his commitment to the theatre was unwavering. He will be missed by so many of us x
— James Corden (@JKCorden) March 24, 2020
May his soul rest in peace!
Images Source: twitter/BCEFA