Mitchell Fink, whose career as a celebrity gossip columnist and entertainment journalist included stints ranging from People magazine to the New York Daily News to the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, died Tuesday at 82 in West Palm Beach, Florida. No cause of death was given.
In addition to print columnist jobs that made him well-known in the entertainment community on both coasts, and regular appearances on television entertainment news programs, Fink was the author of several books, including “Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001,” co-authored with his wife, Lois Mathias, which made the New York Times’ bestseller list.
Fink’s first prominent entertainment news job was as editor of the music magazine Record World in the 1970s. Upon moving over to the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he continued doing music criticism before transitioning to hard news and then ultimately taking over the daily’s well-read “Page 2” column, reporting on the doings of boldfaced celebrity names.
After the Her-Ex folded in 1989, Fink joined People magazine and initiated the “Insider” column, reporting much the same celebrity news but for a national audience. Later he joined the New York Daily News, where his gossip column rivaled the Post’s Page Six and ran until 2002.
He was also a contributor to CNN’s “Showbiz Today” for six years and held positions with “Access Hollywood,” “Good Day New York,” “CBS Morning News” and KTTV’s “Fox Entertainment News.”
Beyond his bestselling 9/11 account, Fink’s other books included “The Last Days of Dead Celebrities,” “Change of Heart” and “Frank Sinatra, Miriam and Me.” Reps for the family say that at the time of Fink’s death, he had just finished writing “Second Chances,” an oral history of shoe designer Steve Madden, and produced the documentary “Maddman: The Steve Madden Story.”
Fink’s connection to Madden ran deep, as he represented Madden’s brand when he moved into PR, serving in his later years as CEO of 1on1 Public Relations.
Fink is survived by his wife, Lois, sons Jesse and Brian and grandchildren Samson, Alice and Cameron.
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