Gene Shalit, the longtime film critic and arts reporter for NBC’s Today show, has died at the age of 100. Known for his flamboyant mustache, puffy hair, and love of puns, Shalit was a fixture on the program from 1970 to 2010, becoming one of the last major network critics to bring movie reviews into American living rooms each morning. His segment, Critic’s Corner, balanced humor with thoughtful critique, avoiding plot spoilers while offering accessible takes on cinema.

Shalit helped shift the center of film criticism from print to television, paving the way for national broadcast reviewers. Before joining NBC, he wrote for McCall’s, Look, and Ladies’ Home Journal—his magazine work earned him the network role despite executives initially doubting his on-camera appearance. Over time, he became a cultural icon, referenced and parodied on shows like Saturday Night Live, while also making cameos on Sesame Street and Family Guy.

He reviewed major films like Stand By Me, calling it 'engrossing' rather than 'grossing,' and praised The Color Purple as essential viewing. Some of his critiques, like calling Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in Brokeback Mountain a 'sexual predator,' drew backlash, which he later apologized for. Shalit was born in New York, raised in New Jersey, and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949. He is survived by his daughter, Willa Shalit.