Legendary Hollywood screenwriter Buck Henry has died at 89.
Henry, who wrote The Graduate, was a co-creator on the series Get Smart with Mel Brooks and a writer/host on Saturday Night Live, passed away with his wife Irene at his side at Los Angeles’s Cedars-Sinai Health Center following a heart attack, a relative told Deadline Wednesday.
The scribe was feted with two Academy Award nods in his career, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate in 1968 (along with co-writer Calder Willingham); and Best Director in 1979 for Heaven Can Wait.
The latest: Legendary Hollywood screenwriter Buck Henry has died at 89. He was snapped at a 2017 event in LA
He was nominated for three Emmys in his career and captured one for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy for The Graduate.
He had also past hosted Saturday Night Live in its early years and played opposite John Belushi in the Samurai sketches.
He appeared in dozens of productions over the past six decades, including shows such as 30 Rock, Will & Grace and Murphy Brown; and movies including The Player, Grumpy Old Men and Defending Your Life.
Among the celebs to chime in, included Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, and Michael McKean, who called Henry ‘a brilliant talent and a really lovely guy.’
Out and about: Buck was snapped last month shaking hands with producer Jonathan Eirich at an event in LA
Imparting wisdom: Buck appeared at the TCM Classic Film Festival in 2018 in LA
Producer Judd Apatow, calling Henry ‘one of the greats,’ recalled an anecdote about the late writer and his keen wit.
‘Buck Henry was hilarious and brilliant and made us laugh more times than we even know,’ Apatow said on Instagram. ‘I was lucky enough to be on a panel with him at SXSW and he was so funny.
‘He said, “I don’t like to write with people because if they aren’t as funny as me I hate them and if they are funnier than me I hate them.”‘
Live from New York: Henry was a key player in the early years of Saturday Night Live, as the first person to host the show at least 10 times, Deadline reported
Talent: Around Hollywood, many grieved the loss of the multi-talented writer/performer
Ensemble: Henry (L) was seen in a clip from the show with the late Gilda Radner and Bill Murray
Actress Marlee Matlin said of Henry: ‘Screenwriting, comedy and wit were his forte and he did it better than anyone.’
Dolemite Is My Name screenwriter Larry Karaszewski hailed the late Henry for his contributions to the craft.
‘R.I.P. Buck Henry – our most fearless screenwriter,’ Karaszewski wrote. ‘Buck was also a big personality & a performer… he gave screenwriting a face. Growing up I could turn on Saturday Night LIve (which Buck hosted 10 times) and point to the funniest, smartest guy and say – that’s a screenwriter.’
Respected: Comedy veterans Patton Oswalt, Michael McKean and Sarah Silverman took to Twitter to pay their respects for the famed writer
Class act: Judd Apatow shared a touching anecdote about a brush with the late writer
Writer David Zuckerman added: ‘RIP #BuckHenry. The Graduate and Heaven Can Wait are perfect screenplays, and Get Smart was hilarious. Another comedy legend gone.’
Famed film critic Leonard Maltin called Henry ‘one of a kind’ in show business and a standout talent.
‘His wry presence enhanced so many movies and TV shows,’ Maltin said. ‘My favorite is still Milos Forman’s Taking Off, which he told me was his favorite too. Rest In Peace.’
Admired: Industry veterans Marlee Matlin and Leonard Maltin praised Henry for his talents
Speaking with the TV Academy Foundation in 2009, Henry said there was no secret to writing – other than to keep going.
‘I wish I could do what writers of my generation do, which is just – open the gate and let it come out,’ he said, according to Deadline. ‘So the best secret is – and it’s not a secret – is just when [you] get stuck in a scene, write nonsense.
‘But do something to keep your hand moving, doing something on the page. That’s all. There are no great insights.’
