Roger Ebert
- Born:
- June 18, 1942, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 2013, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Film Critic, Journalist, Author, Screenwriter
Early Life and Education
- Graduated from Urbana High School in 1960.
- Earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1964.
- Briefly attended graduate school at the University of Cape Town in South Africa on a Rotary scholarship.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began working as a sportswriter for The News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois, while still in high school.
- Joined the Chicago Sun-Times in 1966.
- Became the Chicago Sun-Times film critic in 1967.
- Won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975, the first film critic to do so.
- Co-hosted the nationally syndicated film review television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies, and Ebert & Roeper.
- Continued writing film reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times and his website, RogerEbert.com, until his death.
- Published numerous books on film and his personal life.
- His film criticism significantly influenced public perception and understanding of cinema.
Notable Works
- Film reviews published in the Chicago Sun-Times (1967-2013)
- Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook (annual publication)
- Ebert's Bigger Little Movie Glossary
- Autobiography: Life Itself
- Website: RogerEbert.com
Legacy and Impact
Roger Ebert is widely regarded as one of the most influential film critics of all time. His accessible writing style and passionate advocacy for cinema made film criticism relevant and engaging for a broad audience. He championed independent and foreign films and played a key role in shaping the public's appreciation for the art of filmmaking. Though he never directed a film himself, he understood the value of a good movie, as shown by the content displayed on roger ebert 4 star films productions, his website.