lit a candle 3 Sept 2026My grandmother loved Gene. When she died we played their work at the funeral. Now they're both gone. Strange how connected it all is.
Their story
Eugene Shalit, known to millions simply as Gene, was born on 25 March 1926 and died on 12 June 2026. He was an American journalist and author who made his name as a critic of films and books, and as a familiar face on television. His association with NBC's The…
Eugene Shalit, known to millions simply as Gene, was born on 25 March 1926 and died on 12 June 2026. He was an American journalist and author who made his name as a critic of films and books, and as a familiar face on television.
His association with NBC's The Today Show began with part-time work in 1970, and from 15 January 1973 he was a regular presence there, remaining until he retired on 11 November 2010. Viewers remembered his fondness for puns, his bushy moustache and his Jewfro-styled hair.
Biography adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retold in our own words. Wikipedia ↗
Photos
2Shalit at a St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets in St. Petersburg, Florida, March 1986
by People Forever
Publicity photo of the 1976 cast from the news television program Today. Center: Tom Brokaw. From left: Gene Shalit, (background) Lew Wood, Jane Pauley, Floyd K
by People Forever
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