Sadly, news that journalist and author Dominick Dunne had died last night has been eclipsed by the story of Sen. Edward Kennedy's passing.

However, having just learned of Dunne's death, we thought it only right to pay tribute to him here. Dunne's Vanity Fair column, which focused on the glamorous and seedy parts of celebrity, including the high profile trials of OJ Simpson, the Menendez brothers and Phil Spector, was always our favorite thing to read in the glossy society mag.

According to the Associated Press, Dunne, who was 83, had battled bladder cancer for some time. He had traveled to places like Germany, the Dominican Republic and Bavaria for different cancer treatments -- even claiming that he was at the same clinic as Farrah Fawcett in Bavaria, although they did not cross paths.

Update: Mediabistro.com broke news of Dunne's cancer in March 2008. "I'm undergoing treatments now," Dunne said at the time. "I've got cancer of the bladder -- urinary tract -- not very attractive...I just knew there was something wrong. I came back and they found this. I've taken the first of six treatments and then I go in the hospital and they go in and see how much they got."

Dunne started his career in television and film, and only started writing at age 50 after being run out of Hollywood. He started by writing novels, including "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles." He started to write for Vanity Fair in the 1980's after meeting Tina Brown at a dinner party. He started his gig by covering the trial of the former boyfriend accused of killing his daughter Dominique, John Sweeney.

His work for Vanity Fair and his many books are his legacy. He will be missed.

Related: So What Do You Do, Dominick Dunne, Author, Vanity Fair Special Correspondent?

via the AP