GENE SISKEL
Name: Gene Siskel
Birth name: Eugene Kal Siskel
Born: 26 January 1946 Chicago, IL
Died: 20 February 1999 Evanston, IL
Eugene "Gene" Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999) was one of the
world's most famous film critics. Along with on-screen partner Roger Ebert, they
pioneered the popular weekly movie review TV show Siskel & Ebert until Siskel's
death at age 53.
Born in Chicago, Siskel attended Culver Academies, graduated from Yale
University in 1967 and began working for the Chicago Tribune in 1969. In 1975,
Siskel teamed up with Roger Ebert, film reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times, to
host a show on the local Chicago PBS station WTTW which eventually became Sneak
Previews. Their "thumbs-up, thumbs-down" system soon became an easily
recognizable trademark, popular enough to be parodied on comedy shows such as In
Living Color and in movies such as Hollywood Shuffle and Godzilla. Sneak
Previews gained a nationwide audience in 1978 when it was carried on PBS.
Siskel and Ebert left WTTW and PBS in 1982 for syndication. Their new show, At
the Movies was produced and distributed by Tribune Broadcasting, the parent
company that owned the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV. Sneak Previews continued on
PBS a few more years with other hosts.
In 1986, Siskel and Ebert left Tribune Broadcasting to have their show produced
by the syndication arm of The Walt Disney Company. The new incarnation of the
show was originally titled Siskel & Ebert & the Movies, but later shortened to
simply Siskel & Ebert. At the Movies also continued a few more years with other
hosts.
In 1998, Siskel underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. He announced on
February 3, 1999 that he was taking a leave of absence but that he expected to
be back by the fall, writing "I'm in a hurry to get well because I don't want
Roger to get more screen time than I." The last film he reviewed was the Sarah
Michelle Gellar romantic comedy Simply Irresistible.
He died from complications of the surgery two weeks later, at the age of 53.
After Siskel's death, the producers of Siskel & Ebert hired other film critics
and began using them on a rotating basis as an audition for a permanent
successor. Ultimately, Ebert's Chicago Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper was
hired and the show was renamed Ebert & Roeper and the Movies.
The Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago which presents
world-class independent, international, and classic cinema was renamed The Gene
Siskel Film Center in honor of him in 2000.
Siskel championed the Film Center from its very inception, as did Ebert. When
asked by a journalist to list his three favorite things about Chicago, Siskel
named Michael Jordan, Mayor Daley, and the Film Center. Gene was a member of the
Film Center's Advisory Committee and a strong supporter of the Film Center
mission. Gene wrote hundreds of articles applauding the Film Center's
distinctive programming and he lent the power of his position as one of the
world's most respected film critics to urge public funding and audience support.
Siskel is survived by his wife, Marlene, and their children, Kate, Callie, and
Will.
Name: Gene Siskel
Birth name: Eugene Kal Siskel
Born: 26 January 1946 Chicago, IL
Died: 20 February 1999 Evanston, IL
Eugene "Gene" Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999) was one of the
world's most famous film critics. Along with on-screen partner Roger Ebert, they
pioneered the popular weekly movie review TV show Siskel & Ebert until Siskel's
death at age 53.
Born in Chicago, Siskel attended Culver Academies, graduated from Yale
University in 1967 and began working for the Chicago Tribune in 1969. In 1975,
Siskel teamed up with Roger Ebert, film reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times, to
host a show on the local Chicago PBS station WTTW which eventually became Sneak
Previews. Their "thumbs-up, thumbs-down" system soon became an easily
recognizable trademark, popular enough to be parodied on comedy shows such as In
Living Color and in movies such as Hollywood Shuffle and Godzilla. Sneak
Previews gained a nationwide audience in 1978 when it was carried on PBS.
Siskel and Ebert left WTTW and PBS in 1982 for syndication. Their new show, At
the Movies was produced and distributed by Tribune Broadcasting, the parent
company that owned the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV. Sneak Previews continued on
PBS a few more years with other hosts.
In 1986, Siskel and Ebert left Tribune Broadcasting to have their show produced
by the syndication arm of The Walt Disney Company. The new incarnation of the
show was originally titled Siskel & Ebert & the Movies, but later shortened to
simply Siskel & Ebert. At the Movies also continued a few more years with other
hosts.
In 1998, Siskel underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. He announced on
February 3, 1999 that he was taking a leave of absence but that he expected to
be back by the fall, writing "I'm in a hurry to get well because I don't want
Roger to get more screen time than I." The last film he reviewed was the Sarah
Michelle Gellar romantic comedy Simply Irresistible.
He died from complications of the surgery two weeks later, at the age of 53.
After Siskel's death, the producers of Siskel & Ebert hired other film critics
and began using them on a rotating basis as an audition for a permanent
successor. Ultimately, Ebert's Chicago Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper was
hired and the show was renamed Ebert & Roeper and the Movies.
The Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago which presents
world-class independent, international, and classic cinema was renamed The Gene
Siskel Film Center in honor of him in 2000.
Siskel championed the Film Center from its very inception, as did Ebert. When
asked by a journalist to list his three favorite things about Chicago, Siskel
named Michael Jordan, Mayor Daley, and the Film Center. Gene was a member of the
Film Center's Advisory Committee and a strong supporter of the Film Center
mission. Gene wrote hundreds of articles applauding the Film Center's
distinctive programming and he lent the power of his position as one of the
world's most respected film critics to urge public funding and audience support.
Siskel is survived by his wife, Marlene, and their children, Kate, Callie, and
Will.