Howard Kissel: Lights dimmed in memory

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Howard Kissel, the long-time theater critic for The Daily News, who passed away on 24 Feb 2012 at the age of 69. The marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in his memory on 28 Feb 2012, at exactly 7pm for one minute.

Kissel wrote about film, music, art and theater over four decades. He was an arts editor of Women's Wear Daily and W magazine before joining The Daily News in the mid-1980s where he was the chief theatre critic for 20 years. After he stepped down as theater critic at The Daily News, he wrote a column called "The Cultural Tourist" which eventually became a prolific blog on The Huffington Post.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, said, "Howard Kissel's wit, wisdom, and endless wonder about theater and all things cultural made him an important commentator for many years. His presence will be missed in our theatres and in our lives. Our thoughts are with his friends and family."

Kissel was the former Chairman of both the New York Film Critics Circle and the New York Drama Critics' Circle.

He was the author of "David Merrick: The Abominable Showman," "The Art of Acting," and most recently "New York Theater Walks."

As an actor, he had a role in the 1980 film, "Stardust Memories," playing Woody Allen's manager.

His wife, Christine, died in 2006. He is survived by his sisters Judy Kissel and Anne Kissel Elliot.