Olivia Goldsmith

For other people named Goldsmith, see Goldsmith (disambiguation).
Olivia Goldsmith
Born Randy Goldfield
(1949-01-01)January 1, 1949
Dumont, New Jersey
Died January 15, 2004(2004-01-15) (aged 55)
New York, New York
Occupation Novelist
Nationality American
Period 1950–2005
Genre Comedy
Spouse John T. Reid (1978–1990; divorced)
Some sources claim the couple was never legally wed.[1]

Olivia Goldsmith (January 1, 1949 – January 15, 2004) was an American author, best known for her first novel The First Wives Club (1992), which was adapted into the movie The First Wives Club (1996).

Biography

She was born Randy Goldfield and grew up in Dumont, New Jersey, but changed her name to Justine Goldfield and later to Justine Rendal.[2][3] She took up writing following a divorce in which she said her husband got almost everything (including her Jaguar and the country house).[4]

A graduate of New York University, she was a partner at the management consultants Booz Allen Hamilton in New York prior to becoming a writer. Controversially, in late 1996 Goldsmith said, in response to an Entertainment Weekly reporter's question, that her favorite event of 1996 was when Bob Dole fell off a stage during a campaign function. She also wrote several books for children, which were published under the name Justine Rendal.

Death

Goldsmith died as a result of complications (heart attack) from cosmetic surgery.[5] Her final two books were published posthumously. The song "Edith Wharton's Figurines" from Suzanne Vega's 2007 studio album Beauty & Crime is dedicated to Goldsmith.

Bibliography

References

  1. Profile, newsday.com; accessed February 28, 2015.
  2. Kaufman, Leslie. "Olivia Goldsmith Is Dead at 54; Wrote Comic 'First Wives Club'", The New York Times, January 16, 2004; accessed February 28, 2015. "Born Randy Goldfield in New York to Mark and Estelle Goldfield, she grew up in Dumont, N.J., and attended New York University.
  3. Profile, latimes.com, January 17, 2004; accessed February 28, 2015.
  4. "Random House Official Biography". Random House. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
  5. Associated Press (January 16, 2004). "Author Olivia Goldsmith Dies at 54". Fox News. Retrieved 2006-12-26.

External links


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