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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 13 noveMber 2017
Liz Smith, syndicated gossip columnist, dies at 94

By CHRISTINA PACIOLLA secret became known to discussing that of the stars.
Liz Smith, the syndicated the world. A subject in the gay press
gossip columnist whose Smith held a lighthearted for many years, Smith ac-
mixture of banter, barbs, opinion of her own legacy. knowledged in her 2000
and bon mots about the “We mustn’t take ourselves book that she had relation-
glitterati helped her climb too seriously in this world of ships with both men and
the A-list as high as many gossip,” she told The Asso- women, and confirmed a
of the celebrities she cov- ciated Press in 1987. “When long-rumored, long-term
ered, died Sunday at the you look at it realistically, relationship with archae-
age of 94. what I do is pretty insignifi- ologist Iris Love.
Joni Evans, Smith’s literary cant. Born Mary Elizabeth Smith
agent, told The Associated “Still, I’m having a lot of in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1923,
Press she died of natural fun.” she was the daughter of
causes. After graduating with a de- devout Baptist mother and
For more than a quarter- gree in journalism from the an eccentric father. Smith
century, Smith’s column — University of Texas, Smith said her dad received his In this Aug. 9, 2009, file photo, Liz Smith leaves the Celebration
titled simply “Liz Smith” — recalled buying a one-way divine inspiration more from of Life Memorial ceremony for Walter Cronkite at Avery Fisher
was one of the most widely ticket to New York in 1949 the race track than the pul- Hall in New York.
read in the world. The col- with a dream of being the pit. Associated Press
umn’s success was due in next Walter Winchell. As a young girl, Smith quick- Cosmopolitan that led to into six figures. Her column
part to Smith’s own celebri- But unlike Winchell and his ly fell in love with the silver her break. While establish- was syndicated nation-
ty status, giving her an insid- imitators, Smith succeeded screen, since movies were ing herself as an author- wide, drawing millions of
er’s access rather than rely- with kindness and an aver- one of the few things her ity on Elizabeth Taylor and readers.
ing largely on tipsters, press sion to cheap shots. Wheth- mother did not consider a Richard Burton, Smith at- She was married a second
releases and publicists. er reporting on entertainers, sin. tracted the attention of the time, but it was also short-
With a big smile and her politicians or power brokers, After a brief marriage while New York Daily News. lived.
sweet southern manner, the “Dame of Dish” never attending Hardin-Simmons She started her own col- In between all the par-
the Texas native endeared bothered with unfounded University, Smith earned umn at the tabloid in 1976. ties, movie premieres and
herself to many celebrities rumors, sexual preferences her journalism degree and A gossip star was born. late-night soirees at celeb-
and scored major tabloid or who’s-sleeping-with- headed off for New York In 1978, during a strike at the rity hangouts like Elaine’s,
scoops: Donald and Ivana whom. with two suitcases and $50. News, Smith helped usher in Smith found time to host
Trump’s divorce, Woody “When she escorts us into For nearly 30 years, Smith the era of celebrity journal- an ever-widening array of
Allen and Mia Farrow’s im- the private lives of popular bounced from job to job: ism on television by joining charity fund-raisers.
pending parenthood. One culture’s gods and mon- publicist for singer Kaye WNBC-TV for three nights She raised money for
item proved embarrass- sters, it’s with a spirit of won- Ballard; assistant to Mike a week commentary. Ten groups such from Literacy
ingly premature: In 2012, der, not meanness,” wrote Wallace and Candid Cam- years later she jumped to Volunteers, which teaches
she released a column on- Jane and Michael Stern era creator Allen Funt; Fox, and she later did work adults to read and write,
line mourning the death of in reviewing Smith’s 2000 ghostwriter for Igor Cassini’s for the cable channel E! En- to the Women’s Action Al-
her friend Nora Ephron. But autobiography, “Natural “Cholly Knickerbocker” tertainment Television. liance, which promotes full
Ephron, who was indeed Blonde,” for the New York gossip column. During that time, Smith mi- equality for women.
gravely ill, did not die until Times Book Review. Smith ultimately wrote for grated from the News to She is survived by several
a few hours later and an But it may have been the nine New York newspapers the rival New York Post and nieces and nephews. A me-
impending tragedy that question of her own sexu- and dozens of magazines, finally to Newsday, ulti- morial service will be held
Ephron had tried to keep ality which kept her from but it was a stint writing for mately earning salaries well to honor her this spring.q
Lifetime to premiere movie on Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kid- rich as Mitchell. Smart was While she enjoyed meet-
napping victim Elizabeth on the set for part of the ing the actors, Smart said
Smart is pleased with how filming, narrated the movie in an interview with Deseret
a Lifetime movie and doc- and gave feedback to ex- News that she felt uncom-
umentary she helped pro- ecutive producers Joseph fortable when they asked
duce about her harrowing Freed and Allison Berkley. her to take a photo with
ordeal turned out. But she She especially wanted to them. “It was just this weird
said her visit to the movie help them find a balance experience because I was
set brought back terrible between keeping the in- sitting there like, ‘They’re
memories when she saw tegrity of her gruesome lovely people, but I don’t
actor Skeet Ulrich looking experience and not being know if I should smile be-
so similar to the man who too graphic. cause they don’t look like
abducted her. “Certainly a lot of very lovely people,’” she said.
The upcoming film titled “I bad things happen, and I “They look like my worst
Am Elizabeth Smart” fol- thought, ‘How could you nightmare.” The movie will
lows the nine months after This image released by Lifetime shows Alana Boden, left, with possibly show that without premiere Saturday, Nov.
Smart, then 14, was kid- Elizabeth Smart on the set of “I Am Elizabeth Smart,” premiering it either coming off as dark 18. A two-part documen-
napped by Brian Mitchell Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8pm ET/PT on Lifetime. and terrible and give you tary titled “Elizabeth Smart:
from her bedroom in her Associated Press nightmares at night,’ or Autobiography,” in which
Salt Lake City home in 2002 recognized Mitchell from features newcomer Alana sugar-coating everything Smart shares more details
and was raped daily by her media reports as a suspect Boden as Smart, Deirdre and making it seem like, about the horrific situa-
captor, the Deseret News in Smart’s kidnapping. Lovejoy — who portrays ‘Oh, this terrible thing hap- tion she survived, her res-
reported. Police finally Mitchell was convicted and Mitchell’s estranged wife pened but it really wasn’t cue and what her life is like
found her in Sandy with the is serving a life sentence Wanda Barzee, who aided that bad, and then a mira- now, will be premiered on
help of two couples who for the crime. The movie in the kidnapping — and Ul- cle happened?’ “ she said. A&E Nov. 12-13.q