Redford on publicist Lois Smith: 'She was part of my family'

Friends, family and colleagues of pioneering Hollywood publicist Lois Smith gathered in Hollywood Tuesday to memorialize Smith, who died last month at the age of 84.

Among those telling stories (according to this report from Showbiz411.com) was Robert Redford, one of Smith's earliest and most famous clients. Smith signed Redford back in 1963, when he was performing in his first Broadway play.

Said Redford: "I didn't really understand the value of publicity then. I wasn't the easiest client. But Lois knew how to deal with me. She would say yes, I would say no, she would say yes, Iwould say no, she would say yes, I would say no. Then she would say yes, then I said yes. Lois was humble and down to earth. She was a part of my family."

Also speaking at the memorial were publicist Mara Buxbaum, actor Sean Penn, publicist Brianna Smith (her granddaughter), director Norman Jewison, and her daughter Brooke Smith (an actress, best known for "The Silence of the Lambs"). Another memorial is set for New York in December.