Popular US movie critic Gene Shalit dies aged 100
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- Gene Shalit died at age 100, with his family telling NBC he "passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life" and calling the Today show "an extraordinary era for him"; no cause of death was provided.
- Shalit hosted the "Critics Corner" segment on NBC's Today show from the 1970s through his 2010 retirement, making him a household name for his playful humour, animated reviews, and pun-filled wordplay.
- Shalit's signature visual style — thick-framed spectacles, polkadot bowties, and frizzed hair — was matched by a rare interviewing gift, with Today presenters noting he could "eke out personal confessions and emotional reactions" from celebrity guests.
- Shalit interviewed the Star Wars cast of Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill at the franchise's 1970s peak, and his other notable sit-downs included Carol Channing, Liza Minelli, and director Steven Spielberg.
- Before his TV career, Shalit served as a senior film critic for Look Magazine and later wrote columns for the New York Times, Ladies' Home Journal, and TV Guide.
- Shalit published the 2002 anthology "Great Hollywood Wit," a collection of Hollywood quips, and had planned a retirement book titled "Procrastination is a Full Time Job" that was never published.
Why it matters: Shalit's four-decade run on NBC's Today show — from the 1970s through his 2010 retirement — made him one of the longest-serving film critics on American morning television, and Today presenters specifically credited his rare ability to draw personal confessions from A-list guests. His death removes a personality-driven reviewing style built on celebrity rapport and wordplay that is increasingly rare in today's broadcast morning shows.
