Roger Ebert Passes Away

This is a sad day for anyone who loves the movies. Today, legendary film critic Roger Ebert passed away at the age of 70. Ebert was one of, if not the most, famous film critic of his time. 

Ebert, who started his career as a critic writing reviews for The Chicago Sun Times in 1967 and continued to do so for the rest of his life, grew in fame from his famous TV show with Gene Siskel, "Siskel And Ebert At The Movies" which ran for thirteen years starting in 1986 under that title until Siskel passed away. He continued it after with a series of guest hosts and then turned it into "At The Movies With Ebert And Roeper" with Richard Roeper. Eventually complications due to surgeries forced Ebert to step behind the scenes and allow other critics to fill his place.

Ebert had a long struggle with cancer, having been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002. Just a few days ago he announced a "leave of presence" on his website due to cancer having returned.

For us college students Roger Ebert may be just another name. And it probably is. He's a man that was better known in the generations beforehand. Plus, it may be hard for people not into film to judge his numerous accomplishments, all of which I could not possibly list, as they should be judged. But know that this man is a legend. He is an absolute example of what a good critic, a good writer, and, above all, what a good person should be.

He championed the weird films that you have likely never hard of such as he did with the films of Werner Herzog and had the guts to throw scathing reviews at critically acclaimed films like he did with David Lynch's Blue Velvet. So do yourself a favor. Take some time out of your day, pick one of your favorite films, and go to rogerebert.com. Look up Ebert's review of that film and read it. It's the least you can do for so great a man.

EDIT: I put Mr. Ebert's first name as Robert in the original title of the article while hurrying to get the article up. My apologies.