Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally is now 'the most notable victim' of COVID-19


Four-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally died Tuesday in Florida from complications related to the novel coronavirus, Deadline reports. The author of Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, and musicals Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime — among many others — was 81.
McNally is to date the "most notable victim of COVID-19," Deadline writes. The playwright was a lung cancer survivor and had chronic inflammatory lung disease.
"Heartbroken over the loss of Terrence McNally, a giant in our world, who straddled plays and musicals deftly," tweeted Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. "Grateful for his staggering body of work and his unfailing kindness."
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Other notable victims of COVID-19 reportedly include Manu Dibango, the Paris-based 86-year-old saxophonist behind the hit "Soul Makossa," and 89-year-old Italian actress Lucia Bosè.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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