Rex Reed, the notorious film critic whose razor-edged reviews defined entertainment journalism for six decades, died Tuesday at his Manhattan home. He was 87. Reed built his reputation through The New York Times and major publications, crafting prose that could elevate legends like Bette Davis while skewering modern Hollywood with equal ferocity.

His writing style combined elegant observation with brutal honesty, earning both admiration and enemies. Reed's feud with Frank Sinatra exemplified his willingness to provoke, while his harsh commentary on figures like Barbra Streisand and Melissa McCarthy sparked industry debates. Despite controversy, his work appeared across Vogue, Esquire, and syndicated television, cementing his cultural influence.

Reed's legacy reflects the evolution of entertainment criticism itself. Born in Fort Worth in 1938, he studied journalism at LSU before transforming film discourse. His Manhattan apartment, purchased for $30,000 in 1969, housed decades of industry encounters. The critic's passing marks the end of an era when reviewers wielded outsized cultural power, shaping public perception through fearless, if sometimes vicious, commentary.

His approach to criticism—listening aerobically to draw revealing quotes—created lasting impact on how celebrity profiles are written. Whether praising old Hollywood grandes dames or dismissing contemporary films as 'drivel,' Reed understood that memorable criticism requires equal parts insight and audacity.