20 Facts About Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy wrote for Variety for 31 years as its chief film critic until 2010.

Todd McCarthy was born in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Daniel and Barbara McCarthy.

Todd McCarthy's mother was a cellist and served as the president of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.

Todd McCarthy graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1968 and Stanford University in 1972.

In college, Todd McCarthy was hired as a critic at the newspaper office on campus.

Todd McCarthy's first review was a positive one for the French-Italian film Belle de Jour.

Todd McCarthy edited Kings of Bs: Working Within the Hollywood System with Charles Flynn, a book that discusses the great filmmakers of B movies, which was published in 1975.

Todd McCarthy moved to Los Angeles and from 1974 to 1975, worked for Paramount Pictures as an assistant to Elaine May Todd McCarthy helped her edit Mikey and Nicky.

From 1975 to 1977, Todd McCarthy worked for New World Pictures in Los Angeles as the director of advertising and publicity.

Todd McCarthy joined The Hollywood Reporter as a film critic in 1975 but was let go a year later.

Todd McCarthy was later the manager of the English-language edition of Le Film francais in 1977.

Todd McCarthy joined Daily Variety in 1979 and worked as a reporter and film critic until 1989.

In 1990, Todd McCarthy wrote the PBS documentary Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer which won him an Emmy Award.

Todd McCarthy directed four documentaries about film: Visions of Light, Claudia Jennings, Forever Hollywood, and Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient.

Todd McCarthy lost his job at Variety in March 2010, having been the longest-serving member of their staff.

Todd McCarthy was rehired by The Hollywood Reporter in October 2010 as the chief film critic under Janice Min.

Todd McCarthy wrote the introduction to the 2013 edition of cinematographer John Alton's book Painting with Light.

Todd McCarthy lost his job at The Hollywood Reporter in April 2020.

Todd McCarthy subsequently began writing regularly for Deadline Hollywood later in 2020.

At age 43, Todd McCarthy married documentary filmmaker Sasha Alpert on July 4,1993, at his family's ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.