Film Critic Gene Siskel, One Half of the Iconic TV Duo Siskel & Ebert, Dies at 53
He kept his sharp wit through his illness, joking before his final leave: “I don’t want Roger to get more screen time than I.”
“Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?”
— Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel, the longtime film critic for the Chicago Tribune and one half of the iconic television duo Siskel & Ebert, died on February 20, 1999, at the age of 53. Known for his sharp wit and passionate takes on movies, Siskel helped bring film criticism into mainstream culture alongside his co-host, Roger Ebert.
He married Marlene Iglitzen in 1980, and together they had three children: a son, Will, and two daughters, Kate and Callie.
Health Struggles and Final Days
On May 8, 1998, Gene Siskel was diagnosed with a malignant, terminal brain tumor. Just three days later, he underwent surgery. Even during recovery, he remained dedicated to his work. For several weeks, he continued to appear on Siskel & Ebert by calling in from his hospital bed while Roger Ebert hosted from the studio.
Siskel kept the seriousness of his illness private, telling the public only that he had undergone surgery to remove a “growth” on his brain and was recovering well. He eventually returned to the studio, but viewers noticed he seemed more subdued than usual—a quieter presence compared to his typically sharp and energetic self.
On February 3, 1999, Siskel announced that he was taking a leave of absence from the show to focus on his recovery. In typical fashion, he did so with a touch of humor, saying, “I’m in a hurry to get well because I don’t want Roger to get more screen time than I.”
He died just over two weeks later, on February 20, 1999, at a hospital in Evanston, Illinois, from complications following another surgery. He was 53. A funeral was held two days later at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, and he was laid to rest at Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, Illinois.
