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Gene Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. He collaborated with fellow critic Roger Ebert to host a series of television programs focused on film reviews. Their partnership spanned from 1975 until Siskel's death in 1999. Siskel became well-known for his heated debates with Ebert, as they often disagreed on the quality of specific films. In 1998, Siskel underwent brain surgery and died in 1999 due to complications from the procedure.
Born in Chicago in 1946, Siskel was the son of Nathan William Siskel and Ida Kalis, Russian-Jewish immigrants of the first generation. Both parents had passed away by 1955, when Siskel was nine, leading him to be primarily raised by his uncle and aunt. He attended Culver Academies, a college preparatory boarding school in Culver, Indiana.
Siskel earned his degree in philosophy from Yale University in 1967. Interested in a writing career, he studied under renowned journalist John Hersey, who later recommended him for a position at the Chicago Tribune.
After graduating, Siskel joined the United States Army Reserve, serving as a military journalist and public affairs officer at the Defense Information School. In 1969, he was hired by the Chicago Tribune as a journalist and soon became the newspaper’s film critic, a role he held for three decades.
In 1975, Siskel and Ebert began hosting a film review show on WTTW, Chicago’s local PBS station. Initially titled "Opening Soon at a Theater Near You," it was renamed "Sneak Previews" in 1977 and expanded to the national PBS network. By 1978, the show aired biweekly, gaining a national audience, and by 1980, it was broadcast weekly on over 180 stations, becoming the highest-rated weekly entertainment series in public broadcasting history.
In 1982, after rejecting an unfavorable contract from WTTW, Siskel and Ebert resigned. Their replacements, Neal Gabler and Jeffrey Lyons, saw the show’s ratings decline and faced critical backlash. Meanwhile, Siskel and Ebert launched their own syndicated show, "At the Movies" (1982–1990), through Tribune Broadcasting.
In 1986, they signed a new contract with Buena Vista Entertainment, the TV division of Walt Disney Company, and started "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies" (1986–1999). Around this time, the Chicago Tribune demoted Siskel from full-time film critic to freelance writer, a move he accepted without protest, though Ebert publicly criticized the treatment of his colleague.
In May 1998, Siskel was hospitalized for a brain tumor and underwent surgery. For several weeks, he contributed to the show via phone. Upon returning to the studio, he appeared more subdued and lethargic.
Siskel’s final newspaper review was published on January 29, 1999, in which he praised actress Rachael Leigh Cook and expressed anticipation for her next film. As his health worsened, he sought additional treatment and announced a leave of absence from the TV show on February 3, 1999, expressing hope for recovery. He passed away on February 20, 1999, at age 53, due to complications from the surgery. His funeral was held at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, Illinois, and he was buried at Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, Illinois.
After Siskel’s death, the television program was renamed "Roger Ebert & the Movies." Guest critics filled in temporarily until Richard Roeper became the permanent co-host in 2000. Ebert was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, and as his health declined, the show’s audience diminished, leading to its cancellation in 2010. Fans continue to remember Siskel fondly, viewing him as an irreplaceable figure in film criticism.
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