Army Archerd, whose name is synonymous with Hollywood gossip reporting, has died at age 87 from a form of cancer relating to asbestos exposure he endured during his service in the Navy during WWII. Archerd began covering Hollywood in 1945 and had been with Variety since 1953. His columns reflected a time before gossip got to the ugly state it is in today. Archerd generally wrote friendly pieces about celebrities, though he sometimes broke big news such as the fact that Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS. Archerd respected his subjects and they held him in esteem as well. For full details on his life and career click here