Roger Ebert: American Film Critic and Cultural Commentator

Career and critical approach

Ebert began writing about movies in the 1960s and became known for reviews that balanced personal reaction with analysis of craft. In 1975 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, one of the first and most notable honors to recognize a film critic in that category. He championed both mainstream and independent cinema, was an early user of the internet to publish reviews and essays, and explored subjects ranging from performance and direction to screenwriting and genre. His byline and review style helped shape how critics discussed films in newspapers, magazines, and online.

Television, partnerships, and public profile

Ebert reached a broader public through television. Alongside Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel he co-hosted programs such as Sneak Previews and later At the Movies. The pair popularized a lively, argumentative format that mixed serious appraisal with on-air banter; their short-hand "Two Thumbs Up" endorsement became part of the cultural lexicon. After Siskel's death in 1999, Ebert continued to appear on television with a succession of co-hosts, including Richard Roeper, while maintaining his daily newspaper presence.

Health, later years, and legacy

In 2002 Ebert was diagnosed with cancer and underwent multiple surgeries over the following years. Despite significant health challenges and changes to his speaking and eating abilities, he continued to write reviews, essays, and books and to contribute to public conversations about cinema until shortly before his death on April 4, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois. He is remembered for his advocacy of film preservation, support for emerging filmmakers, and for bringing film criticism to television and the web.

Notable contributions and distinctions

• Longtime columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times and a syndicated reviewer whose work appeared in many newspapers.
• Winner of the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, an important recognition for film criticism in mainstream journalism.
• Co-creator of a popular television review format with Gene Siskel (Siskel), which brought critical debate into living rooms nationwide.
• Helped coin and popularize the phrase "Two Thumbs Up," later a trademarked endorsement associated with their show.
• Maintained a large online presence, publishing reviews, blogs, and commentary that reached global audiences and younger readers.

Further reading and resources

• Biographical overview
• Selected film reviews
• Columns and essays
• Newspaper archives and syndication
• Chicago Sun-Times page
• Early life in Urbana
• Illinois connections
• Relationship with competing critics
• Gene Siskel partnership
• Sneak Previews history
• At the Movies and television influence
• Richard Roeper era
• Health and later writings
• Death and legacy

Ebert's work remains widely cited and discussed by critics, filmmakers, and readers who continue to study his reviews as examples of criticism that is informed, outspoken, and widely accessible.