Perth social writer and personality Holly Wood, an institution on the West Australian A-list circuit, has died after losing a battle with cancer.

Holly, as he was known, took his name from the character Holly Golightly, from the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Originally from Melbourne, he was known and respected for his work as a social writer with Perth paper The Sunday Times.

He worked with the Sunday Independent from 1983 before joining the News Limited paper after its takeover of the Independent in 1986.

Holly, who died aged 68 on Tuesday morning, was a tireless charity worker and a founding member of the WA Aids Council when it formed more than two decades ago.

Openly homosexual, he had a high profile on the Perth gay scene.

The Sunday Times editor Sam Weir said that while diminutive in size, Holly had always been larger than life.

"No matter what the event Holly soon became the centre of it," Mr Weir said.

"But what he will be most remembered for is his tireless contribution to charities in WA over many decades."

The paper's managing director, Ish Davies, said Holly would be admired for the way he had tackled his battle with cancer.

"I had never met a person who was so universally known and universally liked," Mr Davies said.

"He was always immaculately dressed for every social occasion, was a stickler for etiquette despite his characteristic snort and never over-imbibed in alcohol, sticking to the rule that a social writer should never appear drunk.

"He was a shining example of work ethic to his colleagues - he was always positive in the way he approached his illness and had never taken a sick day before he got cancer."

Editor of The West Australian and former Sunday Times editor Brett McCarthy also paid tribute to Holly.

"He was a truly remarkable bloke who did so much good for the community of WA," Mr McCarthy said.