Eugene Shalit (March 25, 1926 – June 12, 2026) was an American journalist, television personality, film and book critic, and author. After starting to work part-time on NBC's “The Today Show” in 1970, he appeared regularly there from January 15, 1973, until retiring on November 11, 2010. He was known for his frequent use of puns and his comical "absent-minded professor" appearance, which consisted of an oversized handlebar moustache, fuzzy hair, large glasses, and colorful bow ties. Gene Shalit was born on March 25, 1926, in New York City, New York. He died of natural causes on June 12, 2026, at his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, at the age of 100.