SOURCE: "Jonathan Larson," in Interview, Vol. 26, June, 1996, p. 104.

[In the essay below, Ringwald offers reminiscences of Larson and her perspective on Rent.]

Recently, my best friend, Victoria Leacock, woke me from a nap. When I answered the phone, I was still disoriented, halfway between sleep and waking. She asked, "Did you hear about Jonathan?" Her voice was trembling and sounded oddly grave. My first thought was, Oh God no, he died. And then, No, it couldn't be. "He won the Pulitzer," Victoria told me. I felt a huge rush of happiness. But then, of course, our friend Jonathan had died.

I met Jonathan Larson through Victoria, his college sweetheart, longtime champion, and dear friend. Later, he became an extraordinarily dependable friend to me, helping me move into my new apartment, introducing me to the neighborhood hardware store, and appointing himself my handyman. I remember one hilarious afternoon we...