Gene Siskel

Eugene "Gene" Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 - February 21, 1999) was, alongpartner Roger Ebert, one oftwo most famous film critics inworld.

Siskel graduated from Yale1967began working forChicago Tribune1969. In 1974 while doing film reviews forlocal television station doingshow called Sneak Previews, he was teamed upRoger Ebert. Their "thumbs-up, thumbs-down" system soon becamestandard forprofession.

In 1998, Siskel underwent brain surgeryremovebrain tumor. He announced on February 3, 1999 that he was takingleaveabsence but that he expectedbe back byfall. I’m inhurryget well because I don’t want Rogerget more screen time than I.

He died from complications ofsurgery two weeks later, at age 53.