Fifi Oscard

FIFI OSCARD a/k/a FIFI STEINMETZ - died suddenly on Nov. 12th at the age of 85. This vibrant, determined and thoughtful woman was esteemed by generations of actors and writers whom she represented in her nearly 50 years at the Fifi Oscard Agency. Among her clients, she was proud to include Orson Welles, Alexander Scourby, George Plimpton, Arthur Ashe, William Shatner, Jack Palance, Walter Sullivan, Art Buchwald, Arnold Rampersad, Leon Redbone, playwright Margaret Edson and other luminaries who would credit Fifi as their "first" agent. Under Fifi's aegis, projects as diverse as the feature films Fame, Donnie Brasco and the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Series came into being.

Fifi was passionate about people, theatre, literature and politics and was a source of inspiration for many. Ms. Oscard served on the Boards of Directors of the Mercantile Library of New York, the New York Hall of Science and the Avignon/New York Film Festival. She was also on the Council of the Temple of Understanding, a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, the Coffee House, The Women's Forum and the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 from the League of Professional Theatre Women for her countless contributions to the American theatre.

Fifi Oscard is survived by her son, Eric Steinmetz and his wife Sylvie, six grandchildren, Victoria Steinmetz, Alexandra Galantic and her husband John, Cyrele Steinmetz, Graham Murray and his wife Susan, Shepherd Murray and his wife Margo, Ian Murray, as well as five great-grandchildren, Alexi, Zachary, Cooper, Tucker and Saylor. Her husband, Harold Steinmetz, died in 1984. She was also predeceased by a daughter, Nancy Murray.

The family kindly requests all donations be made to the Mercantile Library, 17 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017, (212) 755 6710.

The memorial service will be held at the Cosmopolitan Club on Friday December 9th at 4:00 pm, 122 E 66th Street, New York, NY, 10021. (212) 734 5950.