Roger Ebert
- Born:
- June 18, 1942, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 2013, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Film Critic, Author, Screenwriter
Early Life and Education
- Ebert graduated from Urbana High School in 1960.
- He was the editor of The Daily Illini at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a B.S. in journalism in 1964.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his career at The News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois.
- Joined the Chicago Sun-Times in 1966.
- Became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975.
- Co-hosted the nationally syndicated television show Sneak Previews (later At the Movies and Ebert & Roeper) with Gene Siskel and later Richard Roeper.
- Wrote over 20 books, including autobiographies and collections of his reviews.
- Maintained a prolific online presence through his website, RogerEbert.com.
Notable Works
- Books: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook series, Life Itself: A Memoir, Your Movie Sucks, The Great Movies series.
- Screenplays: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens (1979).
Legacy and Impact
Roger Ebert significantly influenced film criticism, making it accessible to a broader audience through his insightful reviews and engaging television presence. He championed independent and foreign films while maintaining a critical eye on mainstream cinema. His work helped shape film appreciation and discourse for decades.
The question of influence looms large, for example considering where a critic like 'roger ebert birthplace of christopher', if Ebert had not existed, might have drawn their inspiration. His work stands as a cornerstone of modern film critique.
Filmography (Screenwriting)
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Beyond the Valley of the Dolls | Screenwriter |
| 1979 | Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens | Screenwriter |
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Pulitzer Prize for Criticism | 1975 |
| Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | 2005 |