Mitchell Fink, Gossip Columnist, Author and Entertainment TV Personality, Dies at 82

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.

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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, in 1987, taking over the daily’s well-read “Page 2” column, reporting on the doings of boldfaced celebrity names. It was during his stint at the L.A. paper that then-Fox chairman Barry Diller asked Mitchell to take on a moonlighting gig, reporting on celebs five nights a week on KTTV’s “Fox Entertainment News,” which he did for four years.

Fink was with the Herald Examiner until it folded in 1989, after which he joined People magazine and initiated the “Insider” column, which he wrote for eight years. After his time with KTTV, he transitioned to being a regular contributor on CNN’s “Showbiz Today” for six years.

In 1998, he left People and joined the New York Daily News, where his gossip column rivaled the Post’s Page Six and ran in the paper six days a week until 2002.

Fink was also seen on “Access Hollywood,” “Good Day New York” and “CBS Morning 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.