Bonnie Greer, playwright and novelist, dies aged 77
Playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer has died aged 77, her husband David Hutchins has said.
Author and cultural critic Bonnie Greer passed away at the age of 77 following a brief illness, according to her husband David Hutchins, who delivered the news with profound sadness. In his statement, Hutchins praised Greer as an acclaimed playwright, author, critic, and cultural and political commentator whose intelligence, courage, and distinctive voice left a lasting impact on British cultural and public life.
He further shared that she was his partner, confidante, and inspiration, and that he felt deeply privileged to have shared his life with her. Close friends remembered Greer's warmth, humor, generosity, and exceptional ability to bring people together. Initially recognized by The Observer as one of the country's leading public intellectuals, Greer's work spanned various disciplines and platforms, focusing on culture, race, and public institutions.
In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Greer discussed her identity, stating that she is just herself when she wakes up in the morning, but becomes a black woman to the world once she leaves her home. She frequently encouraged black women not to apologize for themselves and to ensure their voices are heard. Born in Chicago in 1948, Greer wrote her first plays at a young age, studied theatre in her hometown, and later attended the Actors Studio in New York with director Elia Kazan.
In 1986, she moved to the UK, serving on the boards of prominent institutions such as the British Museum, Royal Opera House, and London Film School. She also became a regular panelist on UK TV programs like Newsnight Review and Question Time and served as the chancellor of London's Kingston University. Among her published works are a memoir titled "A Parallel Life" and a critical biography of US poet and playwright Langston Hughes.
Greer received the Verity Bargate Award for Best Play for "Munda Negra," and authored novels "Hanging by Her Teeth" (1994) and "Entropy" (2009). Her memoir and music history, "Obama Music," was published in 2009. In 2010, she was awarded an OBE for services to the arts, and was appointed a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.
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