"Today" Show Icon Gene Shalit Turns 100! Inside His Quiet Life Now Julia MooreFri, March 27, 2026 at 3:44 PM UTC 0 Gene Shalit in 1973; Shalit's recent photo for 100th birthdayCredit: NBC/NBC NewsWire; TODAY Gene Shalit turned 100 on Wednesday, March 25, and the Today show paid tribute to him Shalit was an onair critic for 41 years, from 1969 to 2010, and Al Roker described him as "just a legend" During the segment, they shared a recent photo of Shalit, and Roker said he "looks fantastic" Today show legend Gene Shalit celebrated a major milestone birthday.
"Today" Show Icon Gene Shalit Turns 100! Inside His Quiet Life Now
Julia MooreFri, March 27, 2026 at 3:44 PM UTC
0
Gene Shalit in 1973; Shalit's recent photo for 100th birthdayCredit: NBC/NBC NewsWire; TODAY -
Gene Shalit turned 100 on Wednesday, March 25, and the Today show paid tribute to him
Shalit was an on-air critic for 41 years, from 1969 to 2010, and Al Roker described him as "just a legend"
During the segment, they shared a recent photo of Shalit, and Roker said he "looks fantastic"
Today show legend Gene Shalit celebrated a major milestone birthday.
On Wednesday, March 25, Al Roker shared on the morning show that it was Shalit's 100th birthday as he celebrated the retired journalist's storied career.
"Happy 100th birthday to Today show legend Gene Shalit," Roker, 71, said of the journalist from Morristown, N.J., who was "a prominent presence here at Today for 41 years."
During the segment, they shared a recent photo of Shalit, and Roker said he "looks fantastic" before sharing how he was celebrating the major milestone birthday.
"He is ringing in 100 by enjoying that fresh air in the Berkshires with his six kids, five grandchildren," Roker said. Shalit was celebrating by "getting ready to watch his beloved New York Mets as they gear up for opening day."
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Roker also catalogued some of the highlights of Shalit's impressive career at Today, as he said, "He started in 1969, he reviewed films, plays, books, so much more."
Advertisement
Among his notable interviews was a sit-down with Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher ahead of the release of the first Star Wars film in 1977.
"Gene could pull out from people so much, to the point where Gene actually lost it almost during the Carol Channing [interview]," Roker said as a clip played of Shalit with the iconic comedian.
"Even Sophia Loren couldn't resist putting her hands into Gene's hair," Roker continued, as he described Shalit as "just a legend."
"I ran into him a few years ago at a Stop & Shop up in the Berkshires. He was buying cat food," the weatherman added.
Shalit retired from Today in 2010 after a 41-year run. In 2022, as Today celebrated its 70th anniversary, the anchors looked back at his iconic interview with Channing, where he could not contain his laughter.
Gene Shalit, Jane Pauley and Tom Brokaw in 1980Credit: Fred Hermansky/NBC/NBC NewsWire
Savannah Guthrie described him at the time as "Today's beloved, mustached movie critic," and shared that Shalit "began as the show's culture critic, reviewing books and in 1969, Shalit's Critic's Corner was born."
Roker then reflected on his time working with Shalit, who he said was "just spectacular in what he knew and who knew."
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: March 27, 2026 at 12:00PM on Source: PRIME TIME
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle