NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Gene Shalit, a movie critic and arts reporter for the 鈥淭oday鈥� show over four decades who was known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and affection for groan-inducing puns, has died. He was 100.
Shalit’s family announced the death Friday to NBC News, saying in a statement that he 鈥減assed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.鈥�
Shalit joined 鈥淭oday鈥� as a contributor in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973, later settling in for his segment, 鈥淐ritic鈥檚 Corner.” When he left the show in 2010, he was one of the last high-profile film critics on a major network.
鈥淲hat resonated above his unusual appearance was his incredible wit, his remarkable intelligence. But he didn鈥檛 pound you over the head with it. He amused you. He enlightened and amused whatever subject he was on,鈥� Guy Ludwig, Shalit鈥檚 producer for more than 20 years,
It was no coincidence that Chicago critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel鈥檚 local 鈥渢humbs-up, thumbs-down鈥� movie-review program, 鈥淪neak Previews,鈥� went national on PBS in the late 1970s and that 鈥淭oday鈥� show’s ABC rival, 鈥淕ood Morning America,鈥� hired Joel Siegel to be its movie critic in 1981.
鈥淪halit was instrumental in changing the balance of critical power in America. When he began his 鈥楾oday鈥� tenure, newspapers and magazines were the primary sources for movie reviews. That鈥檚 where cinematic opinion was sparked and shaped,鈥� The Plain Dealer wrote in 2010, calling Shalit 鈥淒aniel Boone in a bow tie and Groucho glasses.鈥�
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