American screenwriter Terrence McNally passes away due to Coronavirus complications

Terrence McNally, a revered American playwright, librettist and screenwriter whose long career earned him four Tony awards and an Emmy, died Tuesday following coronavirus complications. He was 81 years old. McNally’s publicist said in a statement sent to a press ncy that esteemed artist was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He died while hospitalized in Florida.

An openly gay writer whose subject matter included love, homophobia and AIDS, McNally’s table plays included Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, along with musicals Kiss of Spider Woman and Ragtime.

Tributes quickly poured in from Broway, with Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame dubbing prolific McNally “a giant in our world, who strdled plays and musicals deftly. Grateful for his staggering body of work and his unfailing kindness.”He was an absolute gentleman and his commitment to ater was unwavering,”. 

British actor and comedian James Corden. “He will be missed by so many of us.” McNally is one of first celebrities to succumb to vel coronavirus, which has killed at least 16,961 people worldwide, according to latest AFP tally. His death comes hours after veteran Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango died after contracting COVID-19. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, McNally was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He finished his English degree at New York’s Columbia University in 1960, gruating with high hours. He first wrote for Broway at 23, building his reputation steily throughout his 20s and 30s as a playwright with sarcastic flair who deftly challenged social rms and authority while maintaining an approachable appeal. 

But it wasn’t until 1987 that he became a household name at 48, when he began cleaning up awards and ascending in to upper echelons of American playwrighting. His work Lips Toger, Teeth Apart is considered a landmark play on subject of AIDS, while his comedic farce Ritz featured unabashedly gay characters and was a mainstream hit.

“ world needs artists more than ever to remind us what truth and beauty and kindness really are,” he said in accepting his lifetime achievement award at 2019 Tonys, annual awards for excellence in ater. ater changes hearts, that secret place where we all truly live.”