Longtime NYC publicist for stars
By ASSOCIATED PRESS October 8, 2012 6:42PM
FILE – OCTOBER 07: Veteran publicist and founder of PMK*BNC, Lois Smith died on October 7, 2012 in Maine at the age of 85 from a brain hemorrhage after falling down stairs. She is the mother of actress Brooke Smith, best know from her role on “Grey’s Anatomy”. Lois Smith represented Robert Redford, Marilyn Monroe, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and Whitney Houston. NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 19: (U.S. TABLOIDS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actress Meryl Streep and publicist Lois Smith attend the play opening "bridge and tunnel" on February 19, 2004 at the Bleecker Street Theatre, in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Updated: November 10, 2012 6:23AM
NEW YORK — A longtime New York City publicist who worked with celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford and Martin Scorsese has died. Lois Smith was 85.
Her death on Sunday was confirmed by Cindi Berger, chairman and CEO of PMK*BNC. Ms. Smith was one of the founders of the publicity firm that eventually merged with other firms to become PMK*BNC.
Ms. Smith died from a brain hemorrhage after falling during a trip to Maine with her husband.
Berger described Ms. Smith as a “trailblazer” in the publicity field “who loved her clients and guided them with strong and steady hands.”
Her list of clients during her decades in the business also included Meryl Streep, Warren Beatty and Whitney Houston.
She is survived by her husband and three of her children. A son died in 1985.
AP
