Liz Smith (journalist)

For other people named Liz Smith, see Elizabeth Smith (disambiguation).
Liz Smith
Smith in September 2011
Born
Mary Elizabeth Smith

(1923-02-02)February 2, 1923
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, 2017(2017-11-12) (aged 94)
New York City, U.S.
Other namesThe Grand Dame of Dish
Alma materUniversity of Texas
OccupationJournalist
Years active1950–2017
Spouses
George Edward Beeman
​
​
(m. 1945; div. 1947)​
Fred Lister
​
​
(m. 1957; div. 1962)​
PartnerIris Love (separated)

Mary Elizabeth Smith (February 2, 1923 – November 12, 2017) was an American gossip columnist. She was known as "The Grand Dame of Dish".[1] Beginning her career in radio in the 1950s, for a time she also anonymously wrote the "Cholly Knickerbocker" gossip column for the Hearst newspapers. In the 1960s and early 1970s, she was the entertainment editor for the magazines Cosmopolitan and Sports Illustrated.[2] Between 1976 and 2009, she wrote a self-titled gossip column for newspapers including New York Newsday, the New York Daily News and the New York Post that was syndicated in 60 to 70 other newspapers.[1] On television, she appeared on Fox, E!, and WNBC.[3]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nytobit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Variety was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Liz Smith, popular NY gossip columnist, dead at 94". Fox News. 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2021-10-30.