GOSSIP GURU ARMY ARCHERD DEAD AT 87

Hollywood gossip icon and guru Army Archerd has died at the age of 87. The writer lost his battle against a rare cancer, believed to have stemmed from asbestos exposure during World War II when he served in the United States navy. He passed away at a Los Angeles California hospital yesterday. A showbiz reporter for the industry publication Daily Variety, Archerd worked on the paper for more than 50 years. One of his biggest stories was breaking the story that Rock Hudson had AIDS in 1985. He later said it was one of the hardest stories he had to write. Archerd started his career at the Associated Press, before becoming resident columnist at Variety, where his Just For Variety column was a must-read in all Hollywood circles. He is survived by his wife, Selma, a son and two stepsons.
Photo By: Walter McBride/Retna