Nora Ephron dies at 71

Ephron, who emerged over the past four decades as one of America’s warmest and most acute chroniclers of contemporary culture and society, has died.

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Sept. 6, 2006

Nora Ephron discusses her essay collection, "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman," at the Washington Jewish Literary Festival in Northwest Washington. Since her earliest years as a journalist and essayist, Ephron was known for a keen cultural barometer, channeling her interest in the zeitgiest to the screen, the page and the theater.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

July 23, 1975

As a young essayist, Ephron modeled her writing style on Dorothy Parker, and she soon became a social confederate of a new generation of New York playwrights, filmmakers and wits, including Mike Nichols, Woody Allen and Calvin Trillin. She released three essay collections in the 1970s, including "Crazy Salad: Some Things About Women" in 1975. Her last collection, "I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections," was published in 2010.

Ray Howard / AP

Feb. 22, 1978

Nora Ephron, right, at a literary party with her husband at the time, journalist and author Carl Bernstein, and poet Rose Burgunder, in New York. The relationship at the center of Ephron's 1983 novel and 1986 screenplay "Heartburn" was modeled on her marriage to Bernstein.

Richard Drew / AP

Dec. 12, 2002

Nora Ephron and actor Tom Hanks arrive at the Barrymore Theatre in New York to attend the opening night of Ephron's play "Imaginary Friends," which portrays the battles between playwright Lillian Hellman and novelist Mary McCarthy.

John Marshall Mantel / AP

Sept. 2, 2006

Nora Ephron, left, signs a copy of her 2006 essay collection "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman" for Patricia Fitzgerald, of Reston, at the Washington Jewish Literary Festival in Northwest Washington.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

July 20, 2009

First lady Michelle Obama, center, seated with actress Meryl Streep, listens to Nora Ephron introducing her 2009 film "Julie & Julia" before a screening in the theater of the White House. The film marked the last collaboration in a nearly 30-year professional relationship between Ephron and Streep. They first worked together on the 1983 film "Silkwood," which earned Academy Award nominations for both.

Chuck Kennedy / The White House

Oct. 26, 2009

Steven Spielberg presents the Hollywood Screenwriter Award to Nora Ephron during the 13th annual Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Her last film, "Julie & Julia," was released in August of the same year.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Sept. 5, 2009

Nora Ephron arrives with, from left, actors Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep and Chris Messina for the screening of her movie "Julie & Julia" at the 35th American Film Festival in Deauville, France.

Mychele Daniau / AFP/Getty Images

March 7, 2010

Nora Ephron and husband Nicholas Pileggi arrive at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower in West Hollywood, Calif.

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Oct. 4, 2010

Nora Ephron and then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) attend the Fortune Most Powerful Women summit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington.

Jemal Countess / Getty Images for Time Inc.

Jan. 13, 2011

Nora Ephron, right, and her sister and co-writer Delia attend the celebration of the 500th performance of their play "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" at B. Smith in New York.

Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images

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