\n\t\t\t\t\tUS film critic, Gene Shalit, best known for Today (USA) has died.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
US film critic, Gene Shalit, best known for Today (USA) has died, aged 100 years old.<\/p>\n
In a statement to NBC News, Shalit\u2019s family said he \u201cpassed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born March 25, 1926, Shalit was an instantly recognisable personality. Along with his distinctive handlebar moustache, eyeglasses and bow ties, he is best remembered for his love of puns while doing reviews on the show\u2019s \u201cCritic\u2019s Corner\u201d segment.<\/p>\n
Shalit became a part-time Today personality in 1970 and was elevated to a full-time role in 1973, replacing Joe Garagiola. He remained with the show until he retired in 2010.<\/p>\n
In addition to his reviews, Shalit interviewed scores of celebrities. His 1979 sit-down with Carol Channing is best remembered for the actor telling a story about having trouble understanding the British accent that left him in tears from laughing so hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter with him?\u201d a smiling Channing said as Shalit tried to gather himself.<\/p>\n
His movie reviews were often punctuated by his use of puns, which became his calling card.<\/p>\n
Shalit featured on classic game shows What\u2019s My Line? and To Tell the Truth and wrote for a wide range of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and TV Guide.<\/p>\n
He also lent his voice as a character named Gene Scallop in SpongeBob SquarePants and was parodied on Family Guy and Saturday Night Live.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n