An American journalist, screenwriter, and cinema reviewer with the name of Roger Ebert. Writing for the Sunday magazine of the Chicago Sun-Times marked the start of Roger Ebert’s career in 1966. He was the first cinema critic to get the Pulitzer Prize in 1975.
In the same year, Ebert and fellow reviewer Gene Siskel collaborated on a television programme where they discussed the merits of recent releases. Siskel and Ebert became well-known after the show became a success.
They collaborated up until Siskel‘s death in 1999 as a result of complications from an operation to remove a malignant brain tumor. Today, I’ll discuss Roger Ebert’s financial worth, professional history, and a host of other topics.
Quick Facts About Roger Ebert
| Name | Roger Ebert |
| D.O.B | June 18, 1942 |
| Death | April 4, 2013 |
| Source of Income | Film critic, Screenwriter, Journalist, Author, Television producer, Writer, Critic, Actor, Film Historian |
| Gender | Male |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
His Early Life: Parents and Education
On June 18, 1942, Ebert was born in Urbana, Illinois. He was Walter and Annabel Ebert‘s lone child. His father was an electrician, while his mother was a bookkeeper. He was an altar boy at church in addition to attending St. Mary’s elementary school, where the family was Roman Catholic.
He has German, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. His passion in journalism began when he was a student at Urbana High School and a sportswriter for “The News-Gazette” in Champaign, Illinois. During his final year of high school, he also served as class president and co-editor of the school newspaper. He later won the Illinois High School Association state speech competition’s “radio speaking” division.
He went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after graduating from high school, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1964. He continued to work as a student journalist while in college, reporting for “The Daily Illini” and holding the position of president of the USSPA.
Following a year of study at the University of Cape Town, he started a master’s degree at the same institution before being accepted as a Ph.D. candidate there. He started working as a general reporter for the “Chicago Sun-Times” in 1966 while pursuing his doctorate in Chicago.
Successful Career Journey of Roger Ebert
Movie Critic
In 1966, Ebert was hired to write for the Sun-Times Sunday magazine. After the paper’s social reporter died, the green reporter became the cinema critic. Ebert’s early passion for cinema writing was unmatched. On his first day at his new work, he showed readers the French film Galia to promote the “New Wave” cinema genre.
“We’re treated to a procession of young French girls sprinting gaily toward the camera in slow motion,” he said. “Their hair blowing in the breeze, we know instantly they’re liberated, carefree, cheerful, and doomed.” Nobody foresaw Ebert’s prestige and endurance. His appointment was buried on page 57 of the April 5, 1967 issue.
Move to Television
Ebert rapidly gained a reputation as a hard worker and fast writer whose quick intellect and typing talents made his colleagues envious. Ebert was a respected cinema critic and magazine writer by the mid-1970s.
In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism, and a local TV producer asked him to adapt his work to TV. The idea appeared unique at the time: bring together two film critics from different newspapers and let them vent their opinions weekly.
Ebert was clear-cut. Gene Siskel, a Chicago Tribune film reviewer, contrasted wonderfully with Ebert’s exuberant attitude. The show debuted in September 1975 and was an instant hit. By its first season’s end, the show was on 100 public TV stations. Three years later, PBS brought the show to 180 markets.
The show’s popularity fattened the critics’ wallets, but they didn’t become affluent until the 1980s. Each made $500,000 in 1982. After Disney bought the show four years later, the critics’ pay doubled.
Movies’ Influence
The show’s stars became household names, increasing their influence. The pair highlighted issues that interested them. Their campaign for an adult rating helped create NC-17. Other themed shows attacked colorization and pushed for letterbox visuals and black-and-white movies. They promoted independent, foreign, and overlooked documentaries.
Both men wrote for papers. Ebert also wrote film-related books. Their TV work (which producers called At the Movies) put them on the map. Viewers relished their arguments regarding plots, acting, and direction. They loved Ebert’s “thumbs up, thumbs down” approval metre.
What is the Net Worth of Roger Ebert?
Roger Ebert‘s estimated net worth at the time of his passing was $10 million, based on celebrity net worth.
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His work as a film critic, screenwriter, journalist, author, television producer, writer, and actor generated the most of his income.
Health Conditions
In 2006, Ebert’s oral cancer returned. His lower jaw was removed to access the tumor. Just as Ebert was about to depart, his injured carotid artery burst, causing blood to stream out of his mouth.
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Situation and processes changed Ebert’s life irrevocably. He couldn’t eat, drink, or speak. After a tracheostomy, he had sustenance through a stomach tube. More surgeries to repair Ebert’s jaw with bone and tissue from other regions of his body failed. The man who made a living with his words and voice entered a new era.
Final Words
After a ten-year struggle with cancer, Ebert passed away on April 4, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 70. Ebert was one of the most well-known and significant film critics of his time despite his sickness thanks to his Pulitzer Prize-winning reviews and ongoing influence in the entertainment business.
Please leave a comment in the comment area if you have any queries about Roger Ebert.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Ailment Did Roger Ebert Have?
He received treatment for thyroid cancer, cancer of the jawbone, and cancer of the salivary glands throughout his life. Ebert lost his jaw and his ability to speak in 2006, but he continued to work tirelessly, reviewing more than 200 films annually for the paper and maintaining a renowned online presence.
Who is Roger Ebert’s Spouse?
After a string of relationships, Ebert’s personal life finally found stability in 1992 when he wed Charlie “Chaz” Hammel-Smith, a divorced mother of two.
Roger Ebert Had Kids, Right?
In addition to his grandchildren Raven, Emil, Mark, and Joseph, Roger, Ebert is also survived by his stepchildren Sonia and Jay.