Although criticized as gimmicky and simplistic, a “two thumbs up” accolade was sure to find its way into the advertising for the movie in question.ĭespite his power with the moviegoing public, Ebert wrote in his 2011 autobiography “Life Itself,” that he considered himself “beneath everything else a fan.” It was the main logo of the televised shows Ebert co-hosted, first with the late Gene Siskel of the rival Chicago Tribune and - after Siskel’s death in 1999 - with his Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper.

Above all, they followed the thumb - pointing up or down. He had no grand theories or special agendas, but millions recognized the chatty, heavyset man with wavy hair and horn-rimmed glasses. He had announced on his blog Wednesday that he was undergoing radiation treatment after a recurrence of cancer. He was 70.Įbert had been a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967.

Roger Ebert, the most famous and most popular film reviewer of his time who became the first journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for movie criticism and, on his long-running TV program, wielded the nation’s most influential thumb, died Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

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