After news broke on Thursday that Anne Beatts died, celebrities took to social media to offer condolences and share memories of the groundbreaking writer.
Beatts, who was 74, was a pioneering figure in comedy, serving as one of the few women writers on “Saturday Night Live” at the time of its debut in 1975. With her then-writing partner Rosie Shuster, Beatts created some of “SNL’s” most memorable early sketches and characters, including Todd and Lisa Loopner, Uncle Roy, Laraine Newman’s child psychiatrist, Irwin Mainway and Fred Garvin, and male prostitute.
In 1982, Beatts created “Square Pegs,” a beloved sitcom that celebrated the humor, pain and awkwardness of adolescence. Beatts was also the first female contributing editor to National Lampoon.
Original “SNL” star Newman honored Beatts on Twitter.
Our Anne- an OG SNL writer passed away yesterday. https://t.co/w372416vub
— Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) April 8, 2021
Michael McKean, who was on “SNL” from 1994 to 1995, also paid tribute to Beatts, writing, “She was awesome.”
So sorry to hear this, Laraine. She was awesome.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) April 8, 2021
Writer Jake Fogelnest wrote, “Anne Beatts was a true legend as a comedy writer. I’m so sad to hear of her passing.”
Anne Beatts was a true legend as a comedy writer. I’m so sad to hear of her passing. If you want to watch her speak about her work, there’s hours of interviews with her available here. https://t.co/PuSf6GmBF4
— Jake Fogelnest (@jakefogelnest) April 8, 2021
Film critic Stephen Whitty also took to Twitter to honor the late comedy writer. “RIP the dark and wonderful Anne Beatts, whose talent encompassed the National Lampoon, the original SNL, ‘Square Pegs’ and the pioneering feminist humor anthology, ‘Titters,’” he wrote. “She was and is absolutely essential.”
“If Ted Kennedy drove a Volkswagen, he’d be president today”– RIP the dark and wonderful Anne Beatts, whose talent encompassed the National Lampoon, the original SNL, ‘Square Pegs’ and the pioneering feminist humor anthology, ‘Titters.’ She was and is absolutely essential. https://t.co/c1MXunxiBS
— Stephen Whitty (@StephenWhitty) April 8, 2021
Bobby Moynihan, an “SNL” cast member from 2008 to 2017, also showed support on Twitter.
— Bobby Moynihan (@bibbymoynihan) April 8, 2021
Musician Brian Ray took to Twitter to offer condolences, writing, “Anne was a great person who possessed the best laugh ever. She was a dear friend from my early days getting sober in LA. RIP Anne Beatts.”
Oh, no!! Anne was a great person who possessed the best laugh ever.
She was a dear friend from my early days getting sober in LA.. RIP Anne Beatts. W— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) April 8, 2021