Sunday, December 8, 2024

Film Critic Roger Ebert Has Died at Age 70

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The Chicago Sun Times reports the passing of Roger Ebert at age 70. It was just in the last two days that Ebert announced his cancer had returned and that he was giving up many of his responsibilities. He’d suffered since having part of his jaw removed in 2006. Ebert could no longer speak, and had turned over a lot of his leg work to his indomitable and wonderful wife, Chaz. It seems unusually cruel that both he and his longtime partner Gene Siskel were taken at early ages. Ebert was a favorite among Hollywood stars and directors. His reviews were unusually fair and incredibly generous (although not always, but mostly). He was not part of the print Pauline Kael clique of film critics, but he voiced popular opinion and championed indie films and smaller projects. His tenacity and courage in the last few years was remarkable for someone who was so ill.

Two thumbs up for Siskel and Ebert. They were classy guys.

Here’s the link to the Sun Times. Condolences to Chaz and his family: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/17320958-418/roger-ebert-dies-at-70-after-battle-with-cancer.html

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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