Army Archerd, a popular entertainment writer for Daily Variety, has died of mesothelioma cancer, according to his wife, Selma. Archerd was 87 years old.
Archerd was more than likely exposed to asbestos in the forties and fifties. He served with the United States Navy and worked in various shipyards during World War II, and became ill about two years ago. Within the last two weeks, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and Archerd was admitted to UCLA Medical Center.
Archerd’s widow, Selma, told the Associated Press that he was “the love of my life.”
Born in 1922, Archerd [who was given the name Armand at birth, but shortened it to Army] was responsible for breaking many celebrity news stories, including news that actress Julia Roberts had left fiancée Keifer Sutherland back in 1991. Archerd was also first to report the wedding of well-known actor Warren Beatty to Annette Bening in 1992, getting the story from Beatty himself. He also broke the news that legendary actor Rock Hudson had AIDS in 1996.
Archerd was said to have an “extensive” list of celebrity telephone numbers, and often phoned A-listers directory for information and breaking Hollywood stories.
Other career highlights included his fifty-year stint as a red carpet interviewer at the Academy Awards.
Archerd is survived by his wife, Selma; two children, Amanda and Evan, and two stepsons.
Like many Navy veterans, Archerd came into contact with asbestos materials while serving aboard naval ships and working in shipyards. Asbestos exposure is the conclusive cause of mesothelioma cancer, a fatal disease that will affect the lives of about 3,000 Americans this year. For decades, veteran asbestos exposure has been a serious American health problem.
Mesothelioma cancer often takes several years to develop, and mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of the common flu. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.
For veterans who find themselves diagnosed with this disease, veteran medical support is a serious issue to take into consideration. While many veteran-specific hospitals do treat patients with mesothelioma cancer, it is often wise to consult with an oncologist who specializes in the treatment of this illness, but may not practice at a VA hospital or clinic. Physicians such as Dr. Anne Tsao, an oncologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, work with mesothelioma patients to find the best course of treatment.
