Jack Tinker, Theater Critic, Dies at 58

LONDON (AP) _ Jack Tinker, the irrepressible theater critic of Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, died Monday of a heart attack, the newspaper said. He was 58.

Lights were dimmed Monday night in theaters on London’s West End in his honor _ a rare tribute usually reserved for legendary actors like Lord Laurence Olivier.

A diminutive man with an expansive wit and writing style, Tinker became Mail critic in 1972, a year after joining the tabloid newspaper.

Tinker’s final column on Oct. 25 was a dispatch from New York in which he panned Tony- and Pulitzer-Prize winner ``Rent,″ and raved about the Broadway season’s other musical hit, ``Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ’Da Funk.″

Tinker is survived by ex-wife, Mavis; two daughters, Victoria and Millie; and several grandchildren.