Theater Critic Howard Kissel Has Died; Broadway Marquees to Be Dimmed in His Memory

Howard Kissel, one of New York City’s preeminent writers about theater and the arts, has died at age 69.

Kissel was the arts editor of Women’s Wear Daily, the chief theater critic of the New York Daily News for 20 years, and most recently contributed to The Huffington Post. He was, during his career, the chairman of both the New York Film Critics Circle and the New York Drama Critics Circle.

He authored several books, notably The Abominable Showman, a biography of producer David Merrick, and The Art of Acting, and worked occasionally as actor, including a role as Woody Allen’s manager in Stardust Memories.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 28. Also, the marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in his memory the same night, at exactly 7pm for one minute.