Gene Shalit, longtime Today show film critic, dies at 100

Gene Shalit, the longtime film critic for NBC's "Today" show known for his signature walrus mustache, colorful bow ties, and playful puns, died on Friday, June 12, 2026. He was 100 years old. His family announced his death in a statement to NBC News, saying he passed away peacefully after "100 years of an amazing life."

Shalit joined "Today" as a part-time contributor in 1970 and became a full-time arts editor and film critic three years later, a role he held for more than 37 years until his retirement in 2010. His "Critics Corner" segment made him a beloved and instantly recognizable figure on morning television, where he offered reviews and celebrity interviews as a spirited counterbalance to the day's news.

His reviewing style was characterized by a generous, often positive outlook and a fondness for wordplay. He famously described the 1991 film "The Silence of the Lambs" by saying, "It may be all wool and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn." He could also be blunt in his critiques, once summarizing the 1987 film "Ishtar" as "Ish horrible." His 1980 review of "The Shining," which panned the film against the prevailing critical consensus, remains one of his most noted...