ROGER EBERT (1943 - 2013)

Roger Ebert, 70, who reviewed movies for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years and on American TV for 31 years, and who was without question the country’s most prominent and influential film critic, died Thursday of cancer-related causes in Chicago.  

Ebert was both widely popular and professionally respected. He not only won a Pulitzer Prize — the first film critic to do so — but his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, among the movie stars he wrote about so well for so long. His reviews were syndicated in hundreds of newspapers worldwide. He wrote books including collections of reviews (Your Movie Sucks for instance), both good and bad, and critiques of great movies. In 2011, his autobiography, “Life Itself,” won rave reviews.

Ebert was a prolific user of social media, connecting with fans on Facebook and Twitter. He had just announced on Wednesday that he was undergoing radiation treatment after a recurrence of cancer but still jokingly says he is taking a leave of absence on his blog.

We will miss your sharp and humourous writings. Rest in peace, Mr Ebert.