Gene Shalit, the film critic whose wild hair and walrus mustache became staples of American morning television for four decades, died Friday. He was 100.
Shalit’s family confirmed his death in a statement, saying he “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.” Shalit retired from NBC’s “TODAY” show in November 2010, ending a run that began in 1970 when he started working part-time for the program.
A Critic Known for Wit and Wordplay
His “Critic’s Corner” segment delivered reviews that were as memorable for their wordplay as their verdicts. When the 1987 Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman disaster “Ishtar” hit theaters, Shalit delivered his assessment with characteristic flair: “Ishtar ish tarrible!” The 1974 Burt Reynolds prison football film “The Longest Yard” should “be penalized half the distance to the goal — twice,” he declared. He assessed the widely panned 1991 Bruce Willis vehicle “Hudson Hawk” by noting, “This movie is awful, spelled o-f-f-a-l.”
His pun-laden style extended to positive reviews as well. Shalit said “The Silence of the Lambs” “may be all wool and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn.” He called Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” “passable — speaking colonically.”
From Morristown to National Fame
Born in New York on March 25, 1926, Shalit grew up in New Jersey after his father purchased a drug store in Morristown. At Morristown High School, where he graduated in 1943, he created the school’s first newspaper, The Spotlight, and wrote a humor column called The Korn Krib for the school paper. His classmates voted him “Class Cut-up.” He received his degree from the University of Illinois in 1949, where he worked as sports editor for The Daily Illini.
Shalit spent 12 years as senior film critic at Look Magazine before entering television. He contributed regularly to Ladies Home Journal, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and TV Guide. From 1969 to 1982, he wrote and delivered a daily radio essay for NBC’s national network. He became a full-time host for the TODAY show in 1973, taking over from Joe Garagiola.
Four Decades on Morning Television
Over his four decades on the program, Shalit worked alongside Hugh Downs, Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Bryant Gumbel, Jane Pauley, Katie Couric and Matt Lauer. His segment offered a spirited counterweight to the harder news of the morning, delivered with a showman’s timing and a wordsmith’s precision.
Beyond film reviews, Shalit excelled as an interviewer with a style that ranged from sincere to whimsical. He famously asked Kermit the Frog about marriage plans with Miss Piggy, convinced Richard Burton to read from a phone book, and shared fits of laughter with Carol Channing. His interview subjects ranged from Sophia Loren and Paul Newman to Oprah Winfrey and Harrison Ford.
Guy Ludwig, his producer for more than two decades, said Shalit combined wit with warmth, noting that viewers responded not only to his distinctive look but to his intelligence, which he expressed without pretension while entertaining and informing audiences on any topic.
A Legacy Beyond the Screen
His singular appearance — an explosion of dark hair, a handlebar mustache, extravagant bow ties and black-rimmed glasses — made him a cultural icon. Eugene Levy developed a recurring Shalit impression on SCTV. Horatio Sanz did the same on “Saturday Night Live.” Shalit himself voiced animated versions of his likeness on “The Critic” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.” “The Muppets” produced a felt replica, complete with the signature hair and mustache.
Former co-host Meredith Vieira said simply, “He is the ‘TODAY’ show.” He made one final appearance on the program in 2015 for Willard Scott’s retirement. On his 100th birthday, Al Roker honored him with greetings in a Smucker’s jar, continuing a beloved “TODAY” show tradition.
Shalit lived in Leonia for many years and remained a devoted Mets fan. He was married to Nancy Lewis. He is survived by six children. His wife Nancy Lewis and a daughter predeceased him. His family said the “TODAY” show represented “an extraordinary era for him” — a sentiment that, given the sweep of his career, says something about just how extraordinary that era truly was.
