Joel Siegel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joel Siegel
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Siegel in 2004
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| Born |
Joel Steven Siegel
July 7, 1943 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | June 29, 2007 (aged 63) New York City, U.S.
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| Education | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Television journalist/Film critic |
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Notable credit(s)
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Good Morning America Entertainment Editor (1981–2007) |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Oshman (1969–1970; divorced) Jane Kessler (1976–1982; her death) Melissa DeMayo (1985–?; divorced) Ena Swansea (1996–2007; his death; 1 child) |
| Children | 1 |
Joel Steven Siegel (born July 7, 1943 – died June 29, 2007) was a well-known American film critic. He worked for the TV show Good Morning America on ABC for more than 25 years. Joel also won many Emmy Awards for his work. Before becoming a famous critic, he was a radio disc jockey and wrote ads for companies.
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Early Life and School Days
Joel Siegel grew up in Los Angeles, California. His family was Jewish and came from Romania. He went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with honors.
His grandmother, who was from Romania, survived a big factory fire in 1911. This was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
During his college years, Joel helped people register to vote in Georgia. This was part of the Civil Rights Movement. He often talked about meeting Martin Luther King Jr.. Joel also wrote jokes for Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He was at the Ambassador Hotel when the senator was shot.
Joel Siegel's Career Journey
Starting Out in His Career
In the 1960s, Joel Siegel worked many different jobs. He often focused on helping with the Civil Rights Movement. Later, he worked as a writer and producer for an advertising company.
While working in advertising, he even helped create new ice cream flavors for Baskin-Robbins! Some of the flavors he named were German Chocolate Cake, Peaches & Cream, and Pralines & Cream.
He then started working in radio as a disc jockey and news reporter. He also continued to do freelance advertising work. Through his freelance connections, he got a job writing book reviews for the Los Angeles Times newspaper.
Becoming a TV Critic
Executives at CBS saw Joel's articles in the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine. They hired him to be a special reporter for WCBS-TV in New York. Joel then moved to WABC-TV's Eyewitness News.
At Eyewitness News, Joel suggested he become a film and theater critic. He wanted to show short clips from movies or plays in his reviews. He would use these clips in a funny way to make his reviews more entertaining. This was a new and clever way to review films.
Good Morning America and Beyond
In 1981, Joel Siegel joined Good Morning America (GMA) as their film critic. He became very well-known for his movie reviews.
While working as a critic, Joel also wrote a book for a Broadway musical called The First. This musical was about the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. Joel was even nominated for a Tony Award in 1982 for his writing. This made him the only drama critic to ever receive this nomination.
In 1999, Joel was a guest critic on Roger Ebert's show At The Movies. He filled in after the death of Gene Siskel. Joel Siegel and Roger Ebert were good friends.
Personal Life and Health
Family and Helping Others
Joel Siegel's second wife, Jane Kessler, passed away in 1982 from a brain tumor. In 1991, Joel teamed up with actor Gene Wilder to start Gilda's Club. This group helps people with cancer and their families. It offers social support and a place to connect. The club was named after Gene Wilder's wife, Gilda Radner, who died from cancer.
On June 21, 1996, Joel married his fourth wife, artist Ena Swansea. In 1997, when he was 53, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Just one week after his diagnosis, Joel found out he was going to be a father for the first time.
He wrote a book called Lessons for Dylan. In this book, he shared stories about his life with his young son, Dylan Thomas Jefferson Swansea Siegel. He wanted Dylan to know these stories in case he wasn't around to tell them in person. Joel had surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He welcomed his newborn son home on the same day he finished his chemotherapy treatments.
Two years later, doctors found a spot on Joel's lung. After more surgery and chemotherapy, Joel continued to work on GMA.
Speaking Out About Cancer
Joel was very open about his fight with colon cancer. In 2005, he spoke at a meeting of C-Change. This group includes cancer experts from different fields. He also spoke to the Senate in March 2005. He wanted to encourage people to get a colonoscopy. This is a test that can help find cancer early.
In June 2005, Joel wrote a letter in a medical journal called The Oncologist. He shared his cancer journey and experiences in this letter.
Less than two months before he passed away, Joel spoke to the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. This group was formed after former President George H. W. Bush asked companies to help fight cancer. President Bush and his wife Barbara were there to hear Joel speak. He thanked them for all they were doing for cancer patients.
His Passing
Joel Siegel passed away from colon cancer on June 29, 2007. This was just before his 64th birthday. After Joel's death, Roger Ebert wrote a tribute to him. He said that Joel was "a brave man, and a hell of a nice guy."
Awards and Recognition
Joel Siegel received five New York Emmy Awards. He also won a public service award from the Anti-Defamation League. The New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association also gave him an award for his excellent reporting.
Books by Joel Siegel
- Siegel, Joel. Lessons for Dylan: On Life, Love, the Movies, and Me. PublicAffairs, 2003. ISBN: 978-1-58648-127-8
