Date of Birth: January 26, 1946
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: February 20, 1999
Biography
Gene Siskel was an influential American film critic and journalist, best known for his work with fellow critic Roger Ebert. Born Eugene Kal Siskel, he co-hosted the television series “Siskel & Ebert & the Movies,” which became one of the most popular and respected film review shows in history. Siskel’s career in film criticism began at the Chicago Tribune in 1969, and it was there that he developed his sharp, incisive style that made him a household name. His partnership with Ebert, which started in 1975, was characterized by lively debates and a distinctive style of reviewing films with “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.” Siskel’s contributions to film criticism have had a lasting impact on the industry, and his legacy continues to be celebrated.
5 Interesting Facts about Gene Siskel
1. Gene Siskel graduated from Yale University with a degree in philosophy.
2. Siskel and Ebert’s show was originally titled “Opening Soon at a Theater Near You.”
3. Despite their on-screen disagreements, Siskel and Ebert were good friends off-screen.
4. Siskel was a passionate fan of the Chicago Bulls and had a close friendship with Michael Jordan.
5. He was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gene Siskel
1. “We don’t pretend to be objective and we don’t pretend not to have prejudices. We do try to be honest.”
2. “The greatest films remind us of our humanity.”
3. “Movies are the most powerful empathy machine in all the arts.”
4. “We are born with a certain amount of baggage. Our job is to lighten the load.”
5. “Every movie is a potential masterpiece until the lights go down and the projector starts.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Gene Siskel’s net worth was estimated to be around $3 million.
Children
Gene Siskel had three children with his wife, Marlene Iglitzen: Kate Siskel, Callie Siskel, and Will Siskel.
Relevant Links
1. [Gene Siskel – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0803070/
2. [Gene Siskel – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Siskel
4. [Gene Siskel on the Hollywood Walk of Fame](http://www.walkoffame.com/gene-siskel
5. [Siskel & Ebert Official Archive](https://siskelebert.org/
