27 Facts About Gene Siskel

Eugene Kal Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune.

Gene Siskel remained in the public eye as Ebert's professional partner until Gene Siskel's death on February 20,1999, at age 53, from complications following his May 1998 brain surgery.

Gene Siskel was born in Chicago, and was the son of Ida and Nathan William Gene Siskel.

Gene Siskel lost both of his parents as a child and, as a result, was raised by his aunt and uncle, moving with them when he was nine years old.

In 1986, the Chicago Tribune announced that Gene Siskel was no longer the paper's film critic, and that his position with the paper had been shifted from that of a full-time film critic to that of a freelance contract writer who was to write about the film industry for the Sunday paper and provide capsule film reviews for the paper's entertainment sections.

We think you need to be a newspaper person first, and Gene Siskel always tried to do that.

Gene Siskel remained in that freelance position until his death in 1999.

Gene Siskel was replaced as film critic by Dave Kehr.

In 1975, Gene Siskel teamed up with Ebert, film reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times, to host a show on local Chicago PBS station WTTW which eventually became Sneak Previews.

Gene Siskel gave thumbs up to all of them, except for Playing by Heart.

In 1993, Gene Siskel appeared as himself in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show entitled "Off Camera".

Gene Siskel had an abrasive review style, and claimed his film criticism was an individual exercise that should not be swayed by public taste.

Gene Siskel compiled "best of the year" film lists from 1969 to 1998, which helped to provide an overview of his critical preferences.

In 1980, Gene Siskel married Marlene Iglitzen, who was then a producer for CBS in New York.

Gene Siskel was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on May 8,1998.

Gene Siskel eventually returned to the studio after his recovery, but was noted to appear more lethargic and mellow than usual.

Gene Siskel is interred at Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, Illinois.

Gene Siskel was a Chicago sports fan, especially of his hometown basketball team, the Chicago Bulls, and would cover locker-room celebrations for WBBM-TV news broadcasts following Bulls championships in the 1990s.

Gene Siskel was a member of the advisory committee of the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a strong supporter of the Film Center mission.

Gene Siskel wrote hundreds of articles applauding the Film Center's distinctive programming and lent the power of his position as a well-known film critic to urge public funding and audience support.

Gene Siskel initially gave the film Broken Arrow a "thumbs up", but after hearing Ebert's criticism, Siskel changed his mind to "thumbs down".

Gene Siskel said that he walked out on three films during his professional career: the 1971 comedy The Million Dollar Duck starring Dean Jones, the 1980 horror film Maniac, and the 1996 Penelope Spheeris film Black Sheep.

Ebert was very sensitive to films about race and ethnicity; Gene Siskel was sensitive to films about families and family relationships, and had a special hatred for films like House Arrest and Like Father Like Son, both of which were about parents and their children.

Gene Siskel was a lifelong friend, and our professional competition only strengthened that bond.

Gene Siskel wasn't a filmmaker, but he definitely was a member of our film community.

Gene Siskel was a critic but more importantly, he really loved movies, so, Gene, wherever you are, honey, here's to you.

Gene Siskel included the iconic "thumbs-up" gesture; it received a great round of audience applause.