AceShowbiz - Mitchell Fink, a distinguished entertainment journalist and author, passed away on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 82, according to his family.

Fink was widely known for his extensive network of contacts across New York, Washington, and Hollywood, often referred to as a "golden Rolodex." His career spanned several decades, during which he wrote gossip columns for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, People magazine, and the New York Daily News.

In addition to his print work, Fink was a contributor to CNN’s Showbiz Today for six years. He also appeared on television programs such as Access Hollywood, Good Day New York, and the CBS Morning News, establishing himself as a well-known entertainment reporter.

After completing his studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Fink became editor of Record World magazine before joining the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. There, he shifted his focus from music criticism to politics and hard news.

In 1987, Fink took over the Herald Examiner’s "Page 2" column, which launched his television reporting career at KTTV in Los Angeles. Following the closure of the Herald Examiner in 1989, he joined People magazine, where he created the popular "Insider" column.

He later moved to the New York Daily News in 1998, writing a column six days a week until 2002. As an author, Fink achieved New York Times Best-Seller status with the 2002 book Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001, which he co-wrote with his wife, Lois Mathias.

Other notable books by Fink include The Last Days of Dead Celebrities (2006), Change of Heart (2011), and Frank Sinatra, Miriam and Me (2014). More recently, he completed Second Chances, an oral history of shoe designer Steve Madden, produced the 2017 documentary Maddman: The Steve Madden Story, and served as CEO of 1on1 Public Relations.

Fink is survived by his wife, Lois Mathias; his sons Jesse and Brian; and grandchildren Samson, Alice, and Cameron.