Mitchell Fink, Veteran Gossip Columnist, Dies at 82
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- Mitchell Fink died at age 82 on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida; no cause of death was given.
- Mitchell Fink edited the music trade magazine Record World through much of the 1970s before moving to the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, where he wrote a music column and later the daily “Page 2” celebrity column (1987‑1989).
- Mitchell Fink launched People magazine’s “Insider” column, writing it for eight years, and later contributed to CNN’s “Showbiz Today” for six years.
- Mitchell Fink authored the New York Times bestseller “Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001” with his wife Lois Mathias.
- Mitchell Fink completed the oral history “Second Chances” about shoe designer Steve Madden and produced the documentary “Maddman: The Steve Madden Story” before his death.
- Mitchell Fink served as CEO of 1on1 Public Relations, representing Steve Madden’s brand in his later years.
- Mitchell Fink is survived by his wife Lois, sons Jesse and Brian, and grandchildren Samson, Alice, and Cameron.
Why it matters: His death removes a veteran entertainment columnist and PR executive, leaving the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the 1on1 Public Relations firm without his decades‑long expertise and leadership, while his family inherits his personal and professional legacy, including the unpublished Steve Madden oral history and documentary.
