Comments (0)Army Archerd
Farewell, Army
September 21, 2009Army Archerd, “the most trusted voice of Hollywood,” recently died at age 87, reportedly of a rare form of lung cancer.
For more than a half-century, Archerd wrote a column for Daily Variety, show biz’s trade paper and “bible.” He was the reporter who alerted the world that Rock Hudson was being treated for AIDS back in the mid-‘80s.
A Bronx native, Archerd also took on Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando when they made insulting comments about Jews.
“I have an antenna for any indications of prejudice in the industry, including, but not only, anti-Semitism,” he said when honored by the Friends of the Hebrew University in 2003.
Archerd said he grew up in “a very Jewish home” with immigrant parents. When asked about his unusual first name, he said it was really Armand, but “Army” just stuck.
We won’t see the likes of Army Archerd any time soon.