Army Archerd

So far, the columnist has written only two words on his computer screen. They are the same words he always begins with: "Good Morning." He is not visibly nervous, but he is not relaxed. Despite his gracious welcome and genteel air, a visitor feels like an intruder. Deadline is a mere six hours away. From his mid-Wilshire corner office, the clarity of winter has produced a postcard view of palm trees, mountains and sky: what people in Peoria might imagine when they dream of Hollywood.

I only met Army Archerd once, but long before that brief handshake, the grip softened by age, a gentle smile and a few kind words, I knew him. Starting in the late '80s, he and a cup of coffee would begin my Mondays through Fridays as I read his latest dispatch from the front lines of the entertainment industry in Daily Variety. He was the Hollywood nice guy forever tending to the wounds of Hollywood stars, a battlefield surgeon who would take care of anyone who was bleeding, switching sides day to day as needed.

I only met Army Archerd once, but long before that brief handshake, the grip softened by age, a gentle smile and a few kind words, I knew him. Starting in the late '80s, he and a cup of coffee would begin my Mondays through Fridays as I read his latest dispatch from the front lines of the entertainment industry in Daily Variety. He was the Hollywood nice guy forever tending to the wounds of Hollywood stars, a battlefield surgeon who would take care of anyone who was bleeding, switching sides day to day as needed.

Army Archerd, 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, and rocked the entertainment world when he announced in 1985 that actor Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS, has died. He was 87. According to Variety's website, Archer died Tuesday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical of a rare form of mesothelioma, "a cancer thought to be the result of his exposure to asbestos in the Navy during WWII."

Army Archerd, 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, and rocked the entertainment world when he announced in 1985 that actor Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS, has died. He was 87. According to Variety's website, Archer died Tuesday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical of a rare form of mesothelioma, "a cancer thought to be the result of his exposure to asbestos in the Navy during WWII."

In Hollywood, it's often known as just plain Army. As in, "did you see in Army today. . . ? " The world first heard about Warren Beatty and Annette Bening's marriage in it. The fact that Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS first appeared there. Deals, casting, parties, weddings, divorces, babies--if you're on the map in Hollywood, you're in Army. Army Archerd's column "Just for Variety," which is 40 years old this year, appears in the show business trade paper Daily Variety.

Army's Night Out: Long-time show biz columnist Army Archerd can put down his pencil for a night on Jan. 29 and not worry about deadlines. He'll be the guest of honor that evening at a charity dinner planned by Daily Variety to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his "Just for Variety" column. Concern Foundation for Cancer Research, ERAS and Victor Village, charities selected by Archerd, will benefit from the event at the Beverly Hilton.

Army Archerd announced that he was giving up the column he had written in the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety for 52 years, although he plans to continue reporting on Hollywood. "I'll still be fully employed," Archerd, 83, declared in an interview. "I just won't have the pressure of deadlines." He also plans to continue covering the Oscars and to work on his memoirs. Archerd's column has been a must-read for producers, agents, actors, directors and publicists in the film and TV industries.

Veteran star greeter and Daily Variety columnist Army Archerd offers these tips for Oscar show watching: "We'll know right off the bat who will sweep the show by the first award--best screenplay. If 'Hannah and Her Sisters' or 'Platoon' takes it, there will be a sweep in that direction." Archerd, marking his 25th tour at the awards this year, predicts co-host Paul Hogan will be a real crowd pleaser.

It may look as though veteran star greeter Army Archerd has the best job of the Academy Awards--right at the end of the long red carpet--but the Daily Variety columnist told The Times: "I look forward to this (year) with a great deal of fear." The awards will be held at the significantly larger Shrine Auditorium, making Archerd's job "tough," he said, because "there are that many more people to interview when they arrive."

The Friday lunchtime scene on the patio at Spago in Beverly Hills is tailor-made for a Hollywood columnist, especially one from the old school. The same industry people are here every week. They walk in like they live here, and make a beeline for their tables without bothering to stop at the hostess desk. Robert Stack's widow, Rosemary, in a necklace made of turquoise chunks as big as a baby's fist, is at her table with three age-defying girlfriends.

ON THURSDAY, Army Archerd will retire "Just for Variety," the celebrity column he's written for Daily Variety since 1953. In this era of blog and television-driven insta-gossip, your typical "American Idol" worshiper has probably never heard of the 83-year-old Archerd (he's a comic strip, right?). The notion of a gossip columnist who actually checks his sources sounds not only quaint but a contradiction in terms.

Army Archerd announced that he was giving up the column he had written in the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety for 52 years, although he plans to continue reporting on Hollywood. "I'll still be fully employed," Archerd, 83, declared in an interview. "I just won't have the pressure of deadlines." He also plans to continue covering the Oscars and to work on his memoirs. Archerd's column has been a must-read for producers, agents, actors, directors and publicists in the film and TV industries.

I'd barely been in Army Archerd's cozy corner office at Variety for an hour, watching him put his column together, when he interrupted an anecdote featuring his old pal Mike Wallace to sound off on a more important subject--his age. It seems that some media outlets have been publishing an inflated number, putting Archerd's age at 83. "My correct age happens to be 80," Army reports, saying it again slowly and distinctly so I get it right. "Eight-O."

So far, the columnist has written only two words on his computer screen. They are the same words he always begins with: "Good Morning." He is not visibly nervous, but he is not relaxed. Despite his gracious welcome and genteel air, a visitor feels like an intruder. Deadline is a mere six hours away. From his mid-Wilshire corner office, the clarity of winter has produced a postcard view of palm trees, mountains and sky: what people in Peoria might imagine when they dream of Hollywood.

OK, let's cut to the chase. I got a spot way, way behind Army Archerd, behind the dais, behind the bleachers. Actually I could only see his head, and then the heads of the stars he was interviewing. So that means I saw no gowns and a lot of hair. For two hours I got to see Army Archerd at work. First off, he's a genius for remembering people's names and their movies. On the other hand, his questions were limited to: "How does it feel?" "Do you remember when you won the Oscar?"

OK, let's cut to the chase. I got a spot way, way behind Army Archerd, behind the dais, behind the bleachers. Actually I could only see his head, and then the heads of the stars he was interviewing. So that means I saw no gowns and a lot of hair. For two hours I got to see Army Archerd at work. First off, he's a genius for remembering people's names and their movies. On the other hand, his questions were limited to: "How does it feel?" "Do you remember when you won the Oscar?"

GOOD EVENING: Tinseltown's finest turned out Friday night to pay homage to Army Archerd, the man who has wished them "good morning" for 40 years at the top of his well-read page-two column in the trade paper, Daily Variety. In an industry that values the flavor of the month, this event was full of genuine sentiment for a journalist who has been around long enough to interview Charlie Chaplin in the director's chair, visit a dying Bogie and watch Jon Peters cut hair.

In Hollywood, it's often known as just plain Army. As in, "did you see in Army today. . . ? " The world first heard about Warren Beatty and Annette Bening's marriage in it. The fact that Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS first appeared there. Deals, casting, parties, weddings, divorces, babies--if you're on the map in Hollywood, you're in Army. Army Archerd's column "Just for Variety," which is 40 years old this year, appears in the show business trade paper Daily Variety.