×
Skip to main content
Got a tip?
Newsletters

Rob Reiner, Ryan Murphy, Mark Ruffalo Remember “Fierce Advocate” Larry Kramer

Hollywood stars and public figures took to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to Larry Kramer, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter, playwright, author and trailblazing gay rights and AIDS activist who died Wednesday of pneumonia.

Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer Courtesy of Sundance International Film Festival

Hollywood stars and public figures took to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to Larry Kramer, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter, playwright, author and trailblazing gay rights and AIDS activist who died Wednesday of pneumonia. He was 84.

Kramer was best known for penning the play The Normal Heart, which debuted at The Public Theater in New York City in 1985.

He wrote the screenplays for Women in Love, for which he earned an Oscar nomination in 1969; 1973’s Lost Horizon; and 2014’s HBO film version of The Normal Heart, which was directed by Ryan Murphy and starred Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts. That version won two Emmys, including for outstanding TV movie, among other awards.

Related Stories

David Byrne
Business

Broadway Musical 'Here Lies Love' Reaches Agreement With Musicians' Union Over Live Music

'Six'
Lifestyle

'Six' Hits Hollywood: Tony-Winning Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss Remember the Early Days of the Musical Sensation

In addition to The Normal Heart, Kramer also wrote the plays Sissies’ Scrapbook, A Minor Dark Age, Just Say No, A Play About a Farce, The Furniture of Home and The Destiny of Me.

Also a novelist, Kramer wrote the fiction books Faggots, The American People Volume 1, Search for My Heart and The American People: Volume 2, The Brutality of Fact. 

Kramer often examined what it meant to be gay in America in his writing.

Rob Reiner wrote about Kramer’s passing on Twitter: “We shared the stage in Lance Black’s play, ‘8’ which highlighted our fight for marriage equality. He was a fierce advocate for gay rights. He and his passionate voice will be missed.”

Pose writer, director and executive producer Janet Mock remembered Kramer as “an icon and true fighter until the very end” on Twitter.

Mia Farrow called Kramer “a great man” on Twitter. “Larry Kramer was a magnificent force whose intellect, heart & outrage awakened the nation to the horrors & losses of AIDS, the need for treatment & the inexcusable apathy of the Reagan WH,” she wrote. “Love to David Webster, his husband.”

Jamie Lee Curtis remembered Kramer as “a warrior when there was nothing but fear.” The actress tweeted, “We all owe him a debt.”

“Don’t know a soul who saw or read The Normal Heart and came away unmoved, unchanged,” Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote on Twitter. “What an extraordinary writer, what a life.”

Andy Cohen praised Kramer’s advocacy. “Everyone in the LGBTQ community owes you a debt of gratitude,” he tweeted.

Murphy wrote on Instagram: “[Kramer] was so passionate and so vital I never imagined he would pass. I thought he’d outlive us all. His work and his spirit will. In his memory, watch ‘The Normal Heart’ on HBO today. Or better yet, send an outraged email or tweet to a neglectful politician of your choice. He would have liked that.”

Ruffalo tweeted: “Dear Larry Kramer, It was the greatest honor getting to work with you and spend time learning about organizing and activism. We lost a wonderful man and artist today. I will miss you. The world will miss you.”

Bomer wrote on Instagram: “Larry Kramer. I don’t have the words to properly express my gratitude, admiration, and love for you. Your writing was bold, courageous, and urgent. It educated, stirred people to action, and saved lives. A towering intellect and an amazing wit. My time with you is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. Rest In Peace my friend.”

Read on to see what other people had to say about Kramer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I first met Larry Kramer in 2012. The film rights to his groundbreaking play “The Normal Heart” had become available, and I wanted them. We had a wonderful first meeting, he was kind and excited about my casting ideas — Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts (who would both go on to do the HBO film with us). From there we got into negotiations, and he said he wanted one million dollars for the rights. “Larry!” I said, “that’s a lot of money for a low budget film!” He paused and said “it’s what I’m worth.” I paid it. And I’m so glad I did. Larry knew the value of his work, his life, all gay people’s lives — and his fundamental stubborn belief in equality for all made him perhaps the single greatest and most important gay activist of all time. His fight against government, discrimination, prejudice and big Pharma helped save millions of lives. His fight changed the health care system as we know it. I admired him above all others. He deserved the Medal of Freedom. I loved working with him, his passion. I eventually even came to love our fights. I won a Golden Globe one year, and the first call I got the next morning was from Larry. “I’m glad you won, but I hated seeing you there,” he sniffed. “Larry, you should be happy for me!” I said. “Well, I’m not,” he replied. “Because you should have been at home working on our project.” He was terrified after 30 years of development hell it wouldn’t be made, that his tale of AIDS and rage and beauty would never be seen widely by young people. But we got it made. He cried when he saw the first cut. “All my friends, all my generation, gone…and it’s fucking unfair it didn’t need to happen” he said. Up until the end, we were still plotting. I recently bought the stage rights to do “The Normal Heart” and “The Destiny of Me” in rep on Broadway. He was so passionate and so vital I never imagined he would pass. I thought he’d outlive us all. His work and his spirit will. In his memory, watch “The Normal Heart” on HBO today. Or better yet, send an outraged email or tweet to a neglectful politician of your choice. He would have liked that.

A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Icon Link Plus Icon
The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is a registered trademark of The Hollywood Reporter, LLC.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
ad