Gene Shalit, the witty film critic known for his puns and iconic appearance on NBC’s Today show, passed away at the age of 100, as reported by NBC News based on a statement from his family. Shalit began his tenure on Today in 1970 and later became the arts editor, engaging in interviews with celebrities and critiquing various forms of entertainment. Despite scaling back his role in later years, he left the show in 2010 at the age of 84, humorously declaring, “It’s enough already.”
Recognizable by his trademark bow ties, bushy hair, and a voluminous moustache, Shalit’s “Critic’s Corner” segments on Today overflowed with enthusiasm and humor, resembling a character from a Marx brothers’ film. His reviews were renowned for their playful wordplay, often incorporating puns related to the movie titles he critiqued. Shalit’s unique style of critique led to memorable phrases like describing a remake of King Kong as “fabularious” and “a brilliantological humongousness of marvelosity.”
Early on, Shalit’s passion for wordplay was evident in his column titled “What Shalit Be” in the student newspaper at the University of Illinois. Throughout his career, he maintained a sense of joy and excitement when approaching each movie, as mentioned by his longtime producer on Today, Guy Ludwig.
However, Shalit faced criticism in 2005 for his remarks on a character in the film Brokeback Mountain, which he referred to as a “sexual predator.” Following backlash from GLAAD, Shalit issued an apology for the characterization. Before his time on Today, Shalit worked as a film critic for Look magazine and contributed to Ladies’ Home Journal. Additionally, he authored anthologies such as Laughing Matters: A Celebration of American Humor and Great Hollywood Wit: A Glorious Cavalcade of Hollywood Wisecracks, Zingers, Japes, Quips, Slings, Jests, Snappers & Sass from the Stars.
Known for his distinctive style and appearance, Shalit became a target for parody, being spoofed on shows like Saturday Night Live and Family Guy. He was survived by his six children following the passing of his wife Nancy in 1978.