Roger Ebert Passes Away!

Two cultural icons Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. They hosted At The Movies, a syndicated program that talks about the latest movies. They were best known for the trademark "thumbs up, thumbs down" ratings. Gene had died in 1999. The news broke today that Roger had died. Both died of cancer.

We'll always remember Roger Ebert as the guy who gave thumbs up to most of America's movies. He along with Gene Siskel were At The Movie, a syndicated series in which two movie critics review the movies.

Today, it's reported that the long time Chicago Sun Times film and music critic had died of cancer at age 70.

He leaves behind a legacy of movie reviews and witty humor.

Survived by his wife Chaz Hammelsmith, Roger Ebert lived through his cancer that took away his voice. But with his voice gone, he's magic was in the writing. He wrote screenplays and

Gene Siskel was his rival over at Chicago Tribune. They used to debate the quality of movies by using their trademark "thumbs up and thumbs down" ratings. They ended up becoming cultural icons in the film and music industry.

Roger Ebert and his wife Chaz.

Gene Siskel died of caner in 1999, leaving the America media shocked and sadden by his loss. Roger for the most part, kept his friend close to his side. He vowed to carry forth Gene's legacy by continuing on the show with Richard Roeper. Although his name remained in the title through 2008, he did not appear on the show after mid-2006, when he suffered post-surgical complications related to thyroid cancer that left him unable to speak. Ebert's final series, Ebert Presents: At the Movies, premiered on January 21, 2011, with Ebert contributing a review voiced by someone else in a brief segment called "Roger's Office."

Ebert announced that he would be taking a "leave of presence" from his duties because the hip fracture he suffered a few months earlier was determined to be cancer and he would be receiving radiation treatment; he intended to continue reviewing, but "only the movies I want to review", which he stated was "what I've always fantasized about doing".

He died two days later. The closing sentence on his final blog post, two days before his death, said, "So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies.

President Barack Obama, through the White House Press Office, released the following statement:

"Michelle and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Roger Ebert. For a generation of Americans - and especially Chicagoans - Roger was the movies. When he didn't like a film, he was honest; when he did, he was effusive - capturing the unique power of the movies to take us somewhere magical. Even amidst his own battles with cancer, Roger was as productive as he was resilient - continuing to share his passion and perspective with the world. The movies won't be the same without Roger, and our thoughts and prayers are with Chaz and the rest of the Ebert family."