The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Lawrence Laurent, Washington Post’s first TV critic, dies at 95

August 4, 2020 at 8:39 p.m. EDT
Washington Post television critic Lawrence Laurent at his desk in 1965. (The Washington Post)

Lawrence Laurent, who became The Washington Post’s first television critic in 1953 and wrote about entertainment programming, news and industry developments for more than 20 years — including an uncomprehending critique of the Beatles — died Aug. 1 at a retirement facility in Alexandria, Va. He was 95.

The cause was complications from dementia, his family said.