Marilyn Beck was a print and broadcast journalist who covered the entertainment business and celebrity gossip for more than 40 years. At her peak, Beck reach some 20 million readers with her long-running newspaper column.
Born in Chicago, she grew up in Los Angeles. After graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, she married newspaper reporter Robert Beck, with whom she had two children (the couple later divorced). When their younger child was in elementary school, she began writing freelance articles for various newspaper and magazines.
Marilyn Beck was a print and broadcast journalist who covered the entertainment business and celebrity gossip for more than 40 years. At her peak, Beck reach some 20 million readers with her long-running newspaper column.
Born in Chicago, she grew up in Los Angeles. After graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, she married newspaper reporter Robert Beck, with whom she had two children (the couple later divorced). When their younger child was in elementary school, she began writing freelance articles for various newspaper and magazines.
Tough but fair, she acquired more experience and recognition, and in 1967 the Bell-McClure syndicate gave her her first column. In 1972 her column moved to the New York Times Special Features syndicate and in 1990 she moved to the Creators syndicate.
As early adopter of the internet, Beck, along with her longtime writing partner Stacy Jenel Smith, established a website as an extension of their print work.
In addition to her print and digital journalism, Beck was a regular presence on radio and television programs as a commentator on entertainment topics.
Beck died May 31, 2014, in Oceanside, California. She was 85.
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