Tichi Wilkerson Kassel (1926 - 2004)

The maid's daughter with an eye for a story

Tichi Wilkerson Kassel was born Tichi Noble in Los Angeles on 10 May 1926. She was raised in Mexico but moved back to LA in her teens. Tichi's mother worked as a maid for Billy Wilkerson, publisher and editor of The Hollywood Reporter. Wilkerson started to court Tichi and they soon got married even though he was in his 60s and she only 19.

Tichi wanted to work for the paper, so Wilkerson gave her a desk where she was taught everything there was to know about the publishing business. In 1962, Wilkerson died and Tichi took over the paper. She demonstrated her worth quickly, making several changes, increasing its circulation and influence.

What were her other achievements?

Tichi did so much more than running the paper. She also started two awards: the Key Art Award for achievements in film and TV advertising as well as the Marketing Concept Awards for successful film advertising campaigns.

In 1973, Tichi founded Women in Film (WIF) in Los Angeles after reading an article which revealed only 2% of TV scripts were made by women. The foundation was created as a non-profit organisation to help women in the film business by mentoring and opening up opportunities. Today there are more than 40 WIF chapters in 18 countries and the organisation has 10,000 members.

Tichi also founded the Wilkerson Foundation 'to encourage young people to enter entertainment fields', which merged with the World Film Institute where she became the chair.

Tichi's philanthropic work continued as she created more scholarship funds, non-profit foundations and charities, often to help students break into the film business. In 1988, Tichi published her memoir Hollywood Legends: The golden years of the Hollywood Reporter. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

In 2002, Tichi, together with her second husband Arthur Kessler, funded the Tichi Wilkerson Kassel Parkinson's Foundation to raise money for research. In March 2004, at the age of 77, Tichi died after complications while undergoing intestinal surgery.

How was she remembered?

At the memorial service, more than 500 people turned up. Her tributes included:

'She was a giant of a woman. Tichi was always so can-do. She empowered us.' - Ilene Kahn Power, Producer and co-founder of WIF.

'Tichi had a great passion for her work, and she had a great passion for making life more comfortable for those less fortunate in our community.' - Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood.

Actor Jon Voight said: 'Her courage gave us all a way to understand that life has its beauty and its severe lessons as well.'

Six months after Tichi's death, Arthur Kassel was presented with the American Spirit Award for Tichi's contribution in assisting men and women pursuing a career in the Arts, Music and Education.