Longtime 'Today' Show Movie Critic Was 100
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Gene Shalit, the longtime film critic for The Today Show known for his quirky puns and distinctive walrus mustache, has died peacefully at the age of 100.
- Shalit began his career on The Today Show in 1970 and became a full contributor by 1973, serving as a film and book critic for four decades before retiring in 2010.
- He was recognized for his humorous, pun-filled reviews and unique “absent-minded professor” persona, though his generally positive film assessments sometimes drew criticism from peers.
- Shalit’s notable moments include his early negative review of the 1980 film The Shining, which went against popular opinion, and his appearances and parodies in shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Family Guy, and The Critic.
- Born in 1926 in New York City, Shalit had a prolific writing career in magazines before television and celebrated his 100th birthday in March 2026, a milestone honored on The Today Show.