Director/screenwriter Nora Ephron died yesterday at the age of 71

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Director/screenwriter Nora Ephron died yesterday at the age of 71

Even if you’re not a fan of romantic comedies, writer Nora Ephron actually did them pretty damn well, penning such films as ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘Julie and Julia’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally’. She died yesterday in New York City from leukemia and pneumonia.

A rare author and screenwriter whose works appealed to highbrow readers and mainstream moviegoers, Ephron wrote fiction that was distinguished by characters who seemed simultaneously normal and extraordinary. Like many people, they wrestled with commitment, principles and fame, but often exhibited keen, comic insights about their predicaments.

Her protagonists, who included the chef Julia Child and the whistle-blower Karen Silkwood, were often women and typically were just as capable as the men around them, if not more so.

Ephron directed eight feature films, including “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail” (both featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan) and had screenplay credits on more than a dozen productions. She earned three Oscar nominations — for writing “Sleepless in Seattle,” “When Harry Met Sally…” and “Silkwood.” As a playwright, she wrote “Imaginary Friends” and, with her sister Delia, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore.”