Mustachioed movie critic Gene Shalit dies at age 100

Gene Shalit, the pun-spouting movie critic whose distinctive bow ties and bushy mustache made him a familiar face on NBC's "Today" show for 40 years, has died at the age of 100. NBC News reported his passing, citing a family statement.

Shalit joined "Today" in 1970 and became the program's arts editor in 1973. His "Critic's Corner" segments were known for their ebullience and wordplay, often featuring creative, made-up words to describe films. He retired in 2010 at age 84, stating, "It's enough already."

His reviews were characterized by puns that played on film titles, such as "Go - don't forego - 'Fargo'" or "'Ishtar' is tar-ible." His love for wordplay began early, with a column in his university newspaper titled "What Shalit Be."

Shalit's unique style and appearance made him a target for impersonations on shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "Family Guy." He faced controversy in 2005 for describing a character in "Brokeback Mountain" as a "sexual predator," a comment that drew criticism from GLAAD for being homophobic, leading to an apology from Shalit.

Before his long tenure on "Today," Shalit worked as a film critic for Look magazine and wrote for Ladies' Home Journal. He also compiled anthologies on American humor and Hollywood wit. He was married to Nancy, who died in 1978, and they had six children.

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It's enough already.