Nora Ephron's Family Hollywood Legend Is Gravely Ill

Nora Ephron -- the legendary Hollywood writer who penned the screenplays for "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally" -- is gravely ill ... family members are telling close friends.

The
nature of her illness is unclear ... however there are reports she is
suffering from cancer and is not expected to make it through the night.

There
is speculation that Nora has already passed away -- we're told that's
not true ... but there is little hope she will recover from her current
condition.

71-year-old Ephron was nominated for 3 Academy Awards
in her illustrious Hollywood career ... and was widely considered one
of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry.

Among
her most memorable films ... "Silkwood" ... "My Blue Heaven" ...
"Michael" ... "You've Got Mail" ... and "Julie and Julia."

Ephron
was married to (and famously divorced) Watergate scandal reporter Carl
Bernstein ... before entering her 3rd (and final) marriage to
screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi.