Eugene "Gene" Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999) was one of the world's most famous film critics. Along with on-screen partner Roger Ebert, they pioneered the popular weekly movie review TV show Siskel & Ebert until Siskel's death at age 53.
Interred at Westlawn Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Until his death, Saturday Night Fever (1977) was his favorite movie of all time, he watched it at least 17 times. He even owned the white suit John Travolta wore in the movie, purchased at a charity auction.
Once told David Letterman that if he were trapped on a deserted island with only one film to watch, that film would be 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).
The last five movies he reviewed on "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies" (1986) before his death (for the week ending 13 February 1999) were Message in a Bottle (1999), My Favorite Martian (1999), the U.S. release of Bacheha-Ye aseman (1997), Blast from the Past (1999), and God Said, 'Ha!' (1998). He gave a thumbs-down to all five films.
Considered the film Cannonball Run II (1984) to be the worst movie he had ever seen.
One of his proudest moments was when viewing the Chris Farley-David Spade vehicle Black Sheep (1996), he walked out right before the end for the first time in years. "It was a real high." Later on the show, Roger remarked he wished he had done the same.
Hated nothing worse than trying to watch a movie while a baby in the theatre is crying. Hates any mother who would bring an infant to a movie theatre and is willing to pay $10 to any usher who would chuck the baby out of the theatre along with its negligent mother.
Agreed with long-time colleague Roger Ebert on the best film of 1990 (_GoodFellas (1990)_) and the worst films of 1980 (_I Spit On Your Grave (1980)_) and 1994 (North (1994)).
Was one of the few critics to give the Oscar-winning classic masterpiece Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) a negative review.
The last review he ever wrote was for the 'Freddie Prinze, Jr.'/'Rachel Leigh Cook' vehicle She's All That (1999). He gave it three stars and a positive review (Roger was against it), and the last line was about Cook's breakthrough performance: "I look forward to seeing her in her next movie."
Grew up in the Chicago North Shore town of Glencoe, Illinois. Graduated from Culver Military Academy (Battery A) in 1963 .
The movie Me, Myself & Irene (2000) was dedicated to the memory of Siskel.
Of the three At The Movies hosts (Siskel/Ebert/Roeper), he was the only one that wasn't employed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
