Mon Oct 8, 2007 — by Mike Gold

Richard Goldwater, 1936 – 2007

Archie's step-brother dead at 71

Archie Comics president and co-publisher Richard H. Goldwater died from cancer, according to a press release from Archie Comics. He was 71.

Richard shared top duties at Archie with chairman and co-publisher Michael Silberkleit. He was the son of John Goldwater, Michael is the son of Louis Silberkleit. Together, John and Louis partnered with Maurice Coyne to form the pulp magazine publishing company that evolved into the golden age's MLJ Comics, birthplace to Archie Andrews 65 years ago. Together, Michael and Richard steered the company for the past several decades, keeping Archie a household name while adding Josie and the Pussycats and Sabrina The Teen-Aged Witch to the short list of American comic book icons.

While other major comics companies were sold to big conglomerates, Goldwater and Silberkleit kept Archie Comic Publications family owned, establishing values that were well reflected in their publishing output.

(Pictured left-to-right: Archie managing editor Victor Gorelick and co-publishers Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater. Copyright Vanity Fair, All Rights Reserved.)

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