Gene Shalit

Gene Shalit
Shalit on Today, 1973
Born (1926-03-25) March 25, 1926
New York City, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • film critic
  • literary critic
  • television personality
  • author
Years active1960–2010
TelevisionToday
Spouse
Nancy Lewis
(m. 1950; died 1978)
Children6, including Willa

Eugene Shalit (born March 25, 1926) is an American retired journalist, television personality, film and book critic and author. After starting to work part-time on NBC's The Today Show in 1970, he filled those roles from January 15, 1973, until retiring on November 11, 2010. He is known for his frequent use of puns and his comical “absent-minded professor” appearance, which consists of an oversized handlebar moustache, fuzzy hair, large glasses, and colorful bow ties.