Matt Schudel

Washington, D.C.

Obituary writer

Education: University of Nebraska, (A.B., English); University of Virginia (M.A., English)

Matt Schudel has been an obituary writer at The Washington Post since 2004. He previously worked for publications in Washington, New York, North Carolina and Florida. In addition to writing obituaries, he has been a feature writer, magazine writer, jazz critic and art critic. He is the co-author, with photographer Flip Schulke, of a photo-biography of Muhammad Ali's years in Miami.
Latest from Matt Schudel

Tina Turner, showstopping pop-music sensation, dies at 83

Her personal saga of struggle and revival was defiantly expressed in her 1984 hit song “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”

May 25, 2023

Jim Brown, Hall of Fame running back and actor, dies at 87

He dominated the NFL in the 1950s and ‘60s, then left football for acting and activism.

May 19, 2023

Tim Page, storied Vietnam War photographer, dies at 78

The British photographer was wounded four times while covering the war and inspired Dennis Hopper’s character in “Apocalypse Now.”

August 24, 2022

Ivana Trump, first wife of Donald Trump, dies at 73

The Czech immigrant and businesswoman had a 13-year marriage to the former president and was the mother of his three eldest children.

July 14, 2022

Mark Fleischman, Studio 54 owner, dies by assisted suicide at 82

He bought the Studio 54 nightclub in 1981 from its original owners. After developing a degenerative illness, he announced last month his plan to die by suicide.

July 13, 2022

Tony Sirico, ‘Sopranos’ actor who played Paulie Walnuts, dies at 79

His role as a mobster in 'The Sopranos' was modeled in part on his earlier life as a shakedown artist who served time in prison.

July 9, 2022

Larry Storch, comic actor in TV sitcom ‘F Troop,’ dies at 99

In a long, versatile career, he was an impressionist, comedian and character actor with a memorable role in a 1960s sitcom.

July 8, 2022

Arnold Skolnick, designer of renowned Woodstock poster, dies at 85

Using paper cutouts, he designed the bird-on-a-guitar image that symbolized the 1969 music festival in upstate New York.

July 2, 2022

Baxter Black, trail boss of the cowboy poets, dies at 77

A onetime veterinarian, he became a regular on NPR with his comical stories and poems of rural life.

June 25, 2022

Vivian Hewitt, collector of works by Black artists, dies at 102

Over a 40-year period, she and her husband amassed a major collection of African American art.

June 24, 2022