The Walrus Mustache of Morning TV
Gene Shalit, the film critic who turned morning television into a sly comedy club with his pun-filled reviews and unmistakable look — the walrus mustache, the puffy hair, the loud bowties — died peacefully on June 12, 2026, his family told NBC News. He was 100.
Shalit spent nearly four decades as the go-to movie critic on NBC’s 'Today' show. He joined as a contributor in 1970, became full-time arts editor in 1973, and from his perch in 'Critic’s Corner' delivered groan-inducing puns that millions of viewers woke up to every morning. He retired in 2010, one of the last high-profile film critics on network television.
Print Roots and a Shocking First Impression
Born March 25, 1926, in New York City and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, Shalit started in print at Look magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal and McCall’s. His witty movie columns caught the eye of NBC, but when he walked into the executive suite, his wild hair and giant mustache prompted the stunned executive to ask, according to longtime producer Guy Ludwig, whether Shalit had ever considered radio.
What resonated above his unusual appearance was his incredible wit, his remarkable intelligence. But he didn’t pound you over the head with it. He amused you. He enlightened and amused whatever subject he was on.Guy Ludwig, 'Today' show producer
Puns, Praise and the Criticism of Critics
Shalit’s reviews were famous for their puns. Of 'The Silence of the Lambs' he said it 'may be all wool and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn.' He called the 1987 flop 'Ishtar' 'ish horrible.' For 'X-Men,' he suggested it 'should not be taken seriously. In fact, it should be taken with two aspirin.' While some critics accused him of being too soft — especially on films like 'Spaceballs' — his generous, pun-driven style made him a viewer favorite.
He was a naturally funny guy. I think sometimes he was more interested in the wisecracks than in the sober judgment of the movie. Which is probably what his producer wanted.Leonard Maltin, film critic
A Life on Screen and Off
Shalit interviewed Hollywood royalty — Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Barbra Streisand — and his caricature popped up on 'Saturday Night Live' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants.' Off screen, he endured the loss of his wife Nancy Lewis to cancer in 1978. He is survived by his daughter Willa Shalit. When he turned 100 on March 25, 2026, the 'Today' show placed his photo on a Smuckers jam jar, a network tradition.
Even Sophia Loren couldn't resist putting her hands into Gene's hair. I mean, just a legend.Al Roker, 'Today' co-host
Fellow critic Leonard Maltin credited Shalit with launching his own television career: 'I was booked on the "Today" show when I was an author, when I was younger.' Shalit’s retirement in 2010 closed a chapter in broadcast journalism — an era when film critics were stars, not just aggregators of Rotten Tomatoes scores.
The Last Review
Gene Shalit died on June 12, 2026, at age 100. He leaves behind a daughter, a mountain of puns and a walrus mustache that became print and television folklore. His reviews, once described as 'Daniel Boone in a bow tie and Groucho glasses,' will long outlast the films he covered.
