Gene Shalit: key obituary facts
Is Gene Shalit dead? Yes. Gene Shalit died on June 12, 2026, at age 100.
Cause of death: Gene Shalit's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Gene Shalit known for?
He was known as American film critic (born 1926).
More about Gene Shalit
Born: 25 March 1926.
Place of birth: New York City.
Gender: male.
Occupation: literary critic, film critic, journalist.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Morristown High School, UIUC College of Media.
Children: Willa Shalit.
Career began: 1967.
Also known as: Eugene Shalit.
Occupations: Journalist, film critic, literary critic, television personality, author.
Years active: 1960s–2010.
Gene Shalit, the American journalist, film and book critic, and television personality who became a familiar presence on NBC’s “Today,” died on June 12, 2026, at age 100.
Born in New York City on March 25, 1926, he was also known as Eugene Shalit and began his career in the 1960s after writing for publications including Ladies’ Home Journal and Look. He joined “Today” as a part-time contributor in 1970 and later served as the program’s film critic, book critic and journalist from 1973 until his retirement in 2010.
Over a career that spanned several decades, Shalit was widely recognized for his puns and his distinctive on-air persona.