Gene Shalit, the legendary film critic who spent 37 years reviewing movies on NBC's “Today” show, died Friday, June 12. He was 100 years old.
Shalit became one of the most recognizable faces in American media thanks to his distinctive look — a handlebar mustache, oversized glasses, and bow ties — and his pun-filled, often generous movie reviews. He joined the “Today” show in 1970 as a contributor and became the full-time film and book critic in 1973. He stayed in that role until 2010.
His approach was different from contemporaries like Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Where they could be scathing, Shalit leaned into humor and wordplay from his “Critic's Corner,” sometimes while smoking a cigar. Viewers loved his style, but some critics said he lacked a sharp critical eye.
“He was a naturally funny guy,” said fellow critic Leonard Maltin. “I think sometimes he was more interested in the wisecracks than in the sober judgement of the movie. Which is probably what his producer wanted.”
“He was a naturally funny guy. I think sometimes he was more interested in the wisecracks than in the sober judgement of the movie. Which is probably what his producer wanted.” — Leonard Maltin
Despite his reputation for kindness, Shalit didn't hold back when he disliked a film. He called the 1987 flop “Ishtar” “ish horrible.” His review of “Brokeback Mountain” sparked controversy when he described Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) as a “sexual predator” toward Ennis (Heath Ledger). GLAAD called the review “ignorant and irresponsible,” and Shalit later apologized.
Shalit's career began in print. He wrote for Ladies' Home Journal, The New York Times, TV Guide, and Seventeen. Before that, he worked as a press agent for Dick Clark and others. A colleague told him he was too funny for public relations and suggested he go on air. From 1970 to 1982, he appeared on NBC radio before moving to television.
He also interviewed Hollywood legends, including the then-unknown cast of “Star Wars” — he called Harrison Ford “the only actor named after two presidents” — and Oprah Winfrey after her Oscar nomination for “The Color Purple.”
Shalit's influence extended beyond the screen. He helped launch Maltin's television career by giving him a loose, natural interview on the “Today” show. “He's responsible for my career in television,” Maltin said.
His persona inspired parodies, including on “Saturday Night Live” and as a fish food critic named “Gene Scallop” on “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Shalit was born in New York and raised in Newark and Morristown, New Jersey. His father Isidore founded Shalit's Drugs in Morristown, a local fixture until 1998. At Morristown High School, Shalit created the first school newspaper, The Spotlight. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
He was married to Nancy Lewis for 28 years until her death from cancer in 1978. They had six children, including Willa Shalit.
When he turned 100 on March 25, the “Today” show honored him with his photo on a Smuckers jam jar, a longtime network tradition, and Al Roker sent birthday wishes.
Maltin remembered Shalit's off-screen humor with a story: at a screening of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” Maltin's wife made a wisecrack about how bad the film was. Shalit, sitting behind them, said, “Would you mind sitting up straight and blocking my view again?”