Gene Siskel

Eugene Kal Siskel January 26 1946 February 20 1999 was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune who cohosted a movie review television series alongside colleague Roger Ebert Siskel started writing for the Chicago Tribune in 1969 becoming its film critic soon after In 1975 he was paired with Roger Ebert to cohost a monthly show called Opening Soon at a Theater Near You airing locally on PBS member station WTTW In 1978 the show renamed Sneak Previews was expanded to weekly episodes and aired on PBS affiliates across the United States In 1982 Siskel and Ebert left Sneak Previews to create the syndicated show At the Movies Following a contract dispute with Tribune Entertainment in 1986 Siskel and Ebert signed with Buena Vista Television creating Siskel Ebert the Movies renamed Siskel Ebert in 1987 and renamed again several times after Siskels death Known for their biting wit intense professional rivalry heated arguments and trademark Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down movie ratings system Siskel and Ebert became celebrated in American pop culture Siskel was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 1998 but remained in the public eye as Eberts professional partner until his death the following year Description above from the Wikipedia article Gene Siskel licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia