Ann Hornaday, a Pulitzer Prize-finalist film critic who spent over two decades at The Washington Post, has died at age 66 following a battle with glioblastoma.
Key facts
- •Ann Hornaday served as a film critic at The Washington Post for 23 years, joining in 2002 and leaving in 2025.
- •She was a 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalist in the criticism category.
- •Her posthumous book about the making of "All the President’s Men" is slated for release in 2028.
- •Hornaday was a graduate of Smith College, where she earned a degree in government in 1982.
- •She died at her home in Baltimore following a diagnosis of glioblastoma.
Ann Hornaday, the longtime film critic for The Washington Post, died Sunday at her home in Baltimore. She was 66 and had been battling glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Hornaday served as a critic at the Post from 2002 until 2025, becoming a national figure known for her accessible and insightful writing.
Career and Professional Legacy
Before joining The Washington Post, Hornaday worked as a film critic for the Baltimore Sun and the Austin American-Statesman. Her early career included freelance work for publications such as The New York Times, Premiere, and Us, as well as a two-year stint as an assistant to Gloria Steinem at Ms. Magazine. In 2008, she was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in criticism for her work, which included a review of the film "There Will Be Blood." Hornaday authored the 2017 book "Talking Pictures: How to Watch Movies," which aimed to improve film literacy. She also completed a book regarding the production of the 1976 film "All the President’s Men," which is scheduled for posthumous publication in 2028.
Personal Life and Background
Born on March 9, 1960, in Iowa City, Iowa, Hornaday was raised in Des Moines and graduated from Smith College in 1982 with a degree in government. She met her husband, Dennis Greenia, while on a journalism fellowship in Athens, Georgia. In addition to her professional work, she was a parishioner and Sunday school teacher in Baltimore. She is survived by her husband of 26 years, her daughter Victoria, her stepdaughter Leila, and her brother William.
Timeline
- March 9, 1960Ann Hornaday was born in Iowa City, Iowa.
- 1982Hornaday graduated from Smith College with a major in government.
- 2002Hornaday joined The Washington Post as a film critic.
- 2008She was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in criticism.
- 2025Hornaday left The Washington Post after taking a buyout.
- 2028Her book about the filming of "All the President’s Men" is scheduled for publication.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Variety, Hollywood Reporter.
