Nora Ephron Dead At 71

(SEE UPDATE BELOW) Tuesday afternoon, columnist Liz Smith published a wowOwow post seemingly eulogizing writer and director Nora Ephron. The post soon spread across the web, prompting many to note that there were no other reports of Ephron’s passing.

Smith’s post then appeared to be down, briefly, before appearing anew.

The New York Times‘s Julie Bosman Tweeted that according to Ephron’s publisher, Knopf, the author is still alive.

Newsweek/Daily Beast reporter Maria Elena Fernandez later Tweeted that Ephron, while alive, is in ill health:

Nora Ephron news is not a hoax but she has not passed away. She is not expected to make it through tonight. This is the truth.

— MariaElena Fernandez (@writerchica) June 26, 2012

TMZ confirms this, reporting that Ephron’s family has told close friends that she is “gravely ill.”

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports that Ephron has died:

Nora Ephron, writer and director of movies such as “You’ve Got Mail,” has died – @washingtonpost

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) June 26, 2012

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!