Elaine Kaufman, the well-known owner of legendary New York City restaurant Elaine's, has died, according to The New York Post. She was 81 years old.
Kaufman, who had been in failing health, died at 12:20 p.m. at Lenox Hill Hospital, a spokeswoman for the restaurant told the paper. She died from complications tied to emphysema.
See other celebrities who died this year
Born in 1929, Kaufman grew up in Queens and spent her early years hanging out backstage at theaters around the city. She opened Elaine's in 1963 with just $12,000 and the restaurant quickly became a go-to spot for writers in the area. Kaufman was known for...read more
Kurt Vonnegut, the revered author of such tomes as Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, died Wednesday at age 84. Vonnegut had suffered brain injuries after taking a spill at his Manhattan home a few weeks back. For those who cannot attend the funeral, a CliffsNotes version of the eulogy will be made available.Other passings to note: Actor Roscoe Lee Browne (I remember him as a Cosby Show professor and the guy Archie got stuck in an elevator with on All in the Family) died Wednesday after a long cancer fight. He was 81.... Emmy-winning TV writer Stan Daniels (Taxi) is dead at 72.... Feature scribe A.J. Carothers (The Happiest Millionaire) is dead at 75.read more