Dick Kleiner
Encyclopedia
Richard Arthur "Dick" Kleiner (March 9, 1921 – February 13, 2002) was a Hollywood columnist
whose breezy question-and-answer column, "Ask Dick Kleiner," about Hollywood celebrities appeared in hundreds of newspapers across the country. He was also an author of books, a songwriter, and a voice actor.
Kleiner wrote about Broadway
for fifteen years, then switched to covering Hollywood in 1964. He was syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association. Over the next twenty-five years, he interviewed thousands of stars and would-be stars. His books included Please Don't Shoot My Dog: The Autobiography of Jackie Cooper
and The Two of Us, with Tony Martin
and Cyd Charisse
.
He wrote the lyrics for "Say Hey -- The Willie Mays
Song" and Pearl Bailey
's "It'll Get Worse." He also provided the voice of one of the rats in The Secret of NIMH
.
He began writing his thrice-weekly "Ask Dick Kleiner" column in 1975, responding to questions about celebrities, movies, and television from readers across the country. Although he retired from his other duties in 1989, he continued the column until December 2001.
Kleiner was married to Hortensia "Chicki" Kleiner and they had three children: Peter, Cindy, and Katherine.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
whose breezy question-and-answer column, "Ask Dick Kleiner," about Hollywood celebrities appeared in hundreds of newspapers across the country. He was also an author of books, a songwriter, and a voice actor.
Kleiner wrote about Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
for fifteen years, then switched to covering Hollywood in 1964. He was syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association. Over the next twenty-five years, he interviewed thousands of stars and would-be stars. His books included Please Don't Shoot My Dog: The Autobiography of Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
and The Two of Us, with Tony Martin
Tony Martin (entertainer)
Tony Martin is an American actor and singer.-Career:Tony Martin was born on Christmas Day, 1913 as Alvin Morris in San Francisco, California to Jewish immigrant parents. He received a saxophone as a gift from his grandmother at the age of ten. In his grammar school glee club, he became an...
and Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse was an American actress and dancer.After recovering from polio as a child, and studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the 1940s...
.
He wrote the lyrics for "Say Hey -- The Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
Song" and Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Mae Bailey was an American actress and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968...
's "It'll Get Worse." He also provided the voice of one of the rats in The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 animated film directed by Don Bluth in his directorial debut. It is an adaptation of Robert C. O'Brien's 1971 children's novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The film was produced by Aurora Pictures and released by United Artists. While released to critical acclaim,...
.
He began writing his thrice-weekly "Ask Dick Kleiner" column in 1975, responding to questions about celebrities, movies, and television from readers across the country. Although he retired from his other duties in 1989, he continued the column until December 2001.
Kleiner was married to Hortensia "Chicki" Kleiner and they had three children: Peter, Cindy, and Katherine.