Gene Shalit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Shalit
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Shalit on Today, 1973
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| Born | March 25, 1926 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | June 12, 2026 (aged 100) |
| Education | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1960s–2010 |
| Television | Today |
| Spouse(s) |
Nancy Lewis
(m. 1950; died 1978) |
| Children | 6, including Willa |
Gene Shalit (March 25, 1926 – June 12, 2026) was a well-known American journalist and TV personality. He was famous for being a film and book critic. Many people also knew him as an author.
Gene Shalit started working part-time on NBC's The Today Show in 1970. He became a regular on the show in 1973. He retired from Today on November 11, 2010. He was easy to recognize because of his big mustache, fuzzy hair, large glasses, and colorful bow ties. He also loved to use puns, which are clever word jokes.
Contents
Gene Shalit's Early Life and School Days
Gene Shalit was born in New York City on March 25, 1926. He grew up in Newark and Morristown, New Jersey. His family had roots in Latvia.
In high school, he showed his funny side by writing a humor column for the school newspaper. He later went to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. There, he wrote for the student newspaper and earned a degree in 1949.
Gene Shalit's Amazing Career in Media
In the early 1960s, Gene Shalit worked as a press agent for famous TV host Dick Clark. A press agent helps publicize people and events.
Gene Shalit started reviewing movies and books in 1967. He wrote for many popular magazines. These included Look, Ladies' Home Journal, TV Guide, and The New York Times.
From 1970 to 1982, he had his own daily radio show. It was called Man About Anything and was very popular on the NBC Radio Network.
Gene Shalit as a Film and Book Critic
Gene Shalit became famous as the film and book critic for NBC's Today show. He started on January 15, 1973. He worked there for over 37 years. During this time, he reviewed thousands of movies and books. He also interviewed many famous actors and directors.
Gene Shalit was known for usually giving positive reviews. He often found good things to say about films. For example, he loved John Cusack's acting in the 1989 movie Say Anything.... He called it an "unpretentious and perceptive little jewel of a movie." He also praised the funny Mel Brooks film Spaceballs from 1987.
In 1986, Gene Shalit hosted a special video collection. It was called Gene Shalit's Critic's Choice Video. It featured his reviews of classic movies like Touch of Evil and Double Indemnity.
Gene Shalit retired from The Today Show on November 11, 2010. He had worked there for nearly 40 years. After retiring, he mostly stayed out of the public eye. He made one special appearance for Willard Scott's retirement in 2015.
Gene Shalit's Family and Later Years
Gene Shalit married Nancy Lewis in 1950. She passed away in 1978. For many years, he lived in Leonia, New Jersey. Later, he lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Gene and Nancy Shalit had six children. One of their children is the artist and businesswoman Willa Shalit. Their daughter Emily passed away in 2012.
In 2012, Gene Shalit was involved in a car incident. After this, he decided to stop driving.
Gene Shalit celebrated his 100th birthday on March 25, 2026. The Today show honored him with a special segment. He enjoyed his birthday with family. He also looked forward to watching his favorite baseball team, the New York Mets. Gene Shalit passed away on June 12, 2026, at the age of 100.
See also
- List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)
