Gene Shalit, Iconic 'Today' Show Film Critic, Dies at Age 100

Executive Briefing

• Passed away peacefully Friday, according to a family statement released to NBC News
• Joined NBC's Today show in 1970, becoming arts editor in 1973 and hosting 'Critic's Corner' until 2010
• Recognized as influential in shifting film criticism from print to television, inspiring rival network hires
• Known for signature wit, handlebar mustache, and pun-filled reviews spanning four decades of cinema
• Survived by daughter Willa Shalit after graduating University of Illinois in 1949 and a century of life