Bonnie Greer, an influential playwright, novelist, and broadcaster known for her contributions to the arts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, has passed away following a brief illness. Greer’s career spanned several decades, during which she became a prominent critic on television programs including *Late Review*, *Newsnight Review*, and *Question Time* from the 1990s onward.

Born into a family with deep roots in the American South, Greer was the eldest of seven children. Her father, Ben, came from a Mississippi sharecropping family and served in the British military during World War II, participating in the D-Day landings. Greer’s mother, Willie Mae, was a housewife. Demonstrating an early passion for theatre, she began writing plays at the age of nine and later studied theatre in Chicago under the mentorship of David Mamet, as well as at the Actors Studio in New York with Elia Kazan.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Greer lived in Manhattan’s West Village, a period marked by personal loss as many of her gay male friends succumbed to AIDS. This experience influenced her decision to relocate to the United Kingdom in 1986 after being involved in a production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She described the move as an effort to “escape the shadow of death” prevalent in New York City at the time. Greer became a British citizen in 1997 and focused much of her work on theatre projects highlighting women and ethnic minorities.

Throughout her career, she served on the boards of several major arts institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Opera House, and the London Film School. She held the position of Vice President of the Shaw Society and was Chancellor of Kingston University in London. Her contributions to the arts were formally recognized in 2010 when she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 2022, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Greer also performed in various roles on stage, notably playing Joan of Arc at the Theatre Atelier in Paris, and contributed to radio drama productions for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. An Arts Council playwright in residence at the Soho Theatre, her work reflected a commitment to diverse voices within the arts.

Known for her vibrant presence both on and off screen, Greer was married to solicitor David Hutchins, whom she met in a supermarket aisle. The couple wed in 1993 and are survived by each other. They had no children.