Gene Siskel

Eugene "Gene" Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was, along with partner Roger Ebert, one of the two most famous film critics in the world.

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Siskel graduated from Yale University in 1967 and began working for the Chicago Tribune in 1969. In 1974 while doing movie reviews for a local television station doing a show called Sneak Previews, he was teamed up with Roger Ebert. Their "thumbs-up, thumbs-down" system soon became an easily recognizable trademark. The duo eventually created a popular weekly movie review TV show called simply Siskel & Ebert.

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In 1998, Siskel underwent brain surgery to remove a brain tumor. He announced on February 3, 1999 that he was taking a leave of absence but that he expected to be back by the fall, writing "I'm in a hurry to get well because I don't want Roger to get more screen time than I." The last film he viewed was the Sarah Michelle Gellar romantic comedy Simply Irresistible.

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He died from complications of the surgery two weeks later, at the age of 53.

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January 26: January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 339 days remaining (340 in leap years)....

1946: 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. (see link for calendar)...

February 20: February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 314 days remaining, 315 in leap years....

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