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 job was as editor of the music trade magazine Record World through much of the 1970s. Upon moving over to the Los Angeles Herald Examiner in the late ’70s, he wrote a music column before transitioning to hard news. Then, in 1987, until the paper folded in 1989, he took over the daily’s well-read “Page 2” column, reporting on the doings of boldfaced celebrity names. It was during his stint at the Her-Ex 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.
After the Herald Examiner went under in 1989, he joined People magazine and initiated the “Insider” column, which he wrote for eight years. After his time with KTTV ended in the early ’90s, meanwhile, he transitioned to being a regular contributor on CNN’s “Showbiz Today,” a position he held 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 regularly 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.” His first book project was as editor of “Off the Record: An Oral History of Popular Music,” a book of interviews with music legends conducted by record executive Joe Smith.
Reps for the family say that at the time of his death, he had 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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