Army Archerd
Died
Sept. 8, 2009
of mesothelioma in UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, CA
Army Archerd was a prolific reporter who chronicled the personal and professional lives of Hollywood stars and moguls for more than half a century from his columnist's perch at Daily Variety. Over the years, as the relationship between entertainment journalists and movie stars evolved from fawning to sometimes harshly objective, Archerd, perhaps best known for his televised job as official greeter of stars each year outside the Academy Awards, remained a respected figure by generations of industry insiders who praised him for his integrity, truthfulness and kindness. Archerd met everyone and interviewed everyone — Charlie Chaplin in the director's chair, Humphrey Bogart on his deathbed and Jon Peters at the hairdresser's chair. There was only one star he longed to interview, but never did: Greta Garbo. Archerd's biggest scoop was published July 23, 1985: the announcement that Rock Hudson was battling AIDS. He got his first break in 1945, when he was hired by Bob Thomas of the Associated Press. Two years later Archerd left AP and went to work for another Hollywood columnist, Harrison Carroll of Hearst's Herald-Express. Six years later, in 1953, Daily Variety hired him to replace movie columnist Sheilah Graham. "Just for Variety" debuted April 27 and what followed over the next 53 years was an incalculable number of items about every major and most minor players in show business.
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