At age 70, legendary fllm critic Roger Ebert passed earlier this week on April 4, 2013.
Ebert reported for at the Chicago Sun Times for 46 years, starting in 1967. He also starred in the wildly popular television series At the Movies with fellow film critic Gene Siskel.
Later, after Siskel’s death in 1999, Ebert ran a blog of film reviews. He wrote more than 300 reviews in 2012 alone.
In 1975 Roger Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. And in 2007, Forbes magazine called Ebert the most powerful critic. He’s also the only film critic with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Throughout his career, he wrote over 15 books about movies.
Ebert’s life ended with his battle with cancer. The battle started with a diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer in 2002, which later resulted in Ebert losing his ability to speak and eat.
The cancer’s recent return prompted Ebert to write in his blog:
“It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So, on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.”
Ebert will remain a legendary figure in the history of film criticism, especially in the real om criticism that uses television and visual media as a means of communication.
His life will also live on in film form.
Accomplished director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters, Head Games) is currently working on Ebert’s memoir/bio-documentary film Life Itself.
The film is executive produced by Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Departed) and written by Steve Zaillian (Schindler’s List, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).
In Ebert’s April 2, 2013 blog essay “A Leave of Presence,” he thanked his readers for their sustained commitment.
“Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter. However you came to know me, I’m glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.”
“So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.”
