Roger Ebert remembered by Hollywood
The death of film critic Roger Ebert elicits wide reaction from directors, actors, fellow critics and others:
"I am devastated by the loss of my love, Roger - my husband, my friend, my confidante and oh-so-brilliant partner of over 20 years. He fought a courageous fight. I've lost the love of my life and the world has lost a visionary and a creative and generous spirit who touched so many people all over the world. We had a lovely, lovely life together, more beautiful and epic than a movie. It had its highs and the lows, but was always experienced with good humor, grace and a deep abiding love for each other." -- Ebert's wife, Chaz Ebert, in a statement posted on her husband's blog.
"The death of Roger Ebert is an incalculable loss for movie culture and for film criticism. And it's a loss for me personally. Roger was always supportive, he was always right there for me when I needed it most, when it really counted - at the very beginning, when every word of encouragement was precious; and then again, when I was at the lowest ebb of my career, there he was, just as encouraging, just as warmly supportive. There was a professional distance between us, but then I could talk to him much more freely than I could to other critics. Really, Roger was my friend. It's that simple. Few people I've known in my life loved or cared as much about movies. I know that's what kept him going in those last years - his life-or-death passion for movies, and his wonderful wife, Chaz. We all knew that this moment was coming, but that doesn't make the loss any less wrenching. I'll miss him -- my dear friend, Roger Ebert." -- Director Martin Scorsese.
"Roger loved movies. They were his life. His reviews went far deeper than simply thumbs up or thumbs down. He wrote with passion through a real knowledge of film and film history, and in doing so, helped many movies find their audiences. Along with Gene Shalit, Joel Siegel, and of course Gene Siskel, Roger put television criticism on the map. Roger's passing is virtually the end of an era and now the balcony is closed forever." -- Movie director Steven Spielberg.
"Roger and Gene (Siskel) together again. End of an era." -- Oprah Winfrey on Twitter.
"Roger was the movies. When he didn't like a film, he was honest; when he did, he was effusive - capturing the unique power of the movies to take us somewhere magical. Even amidst his own battles with cancer, Roger was as productive as he was resilient - continuing to share his passion and perspective with the world. The movies won't be the same without Roger, and our thoughts and prayers are with Chaz and the rest of the Ebert family." -- President Barack Obama, in a statement.
"Roger Ebert was one of the great champions of freedom of artistic expression. When the power of independent film was still unknown and few would support it, Roger was there for our artists. His personal passion for cinema was boundless, and that is sure to be his legacy for generations to come." -- Robert Redford, actor and founder of the Sundance Institute, in a statement.
"From the mightiest blockbuster to the smallest independent film, Roger Ebert devoted his career to sharing his love of film with generations of moviegoers. The role of critics is to call them as they see them and Roger did so with integrity." -- Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford.
"He wrote (the) book. There was no business before him and Gene Siskel. ... He pioneered that crossover from print to broadcast media, and he did it with such professionalism and perception and passion. He was an amazing contributor to our industry, and his influence will be long felt." -- Warner Bros. distribution executive Jeff Goldstein.
"It will leave a huge void. He was the most widely read critic. For many people that's how they understand film criticism. They understand film criticism in terms of Roger Ebert. He is the icon of that medium for most people. He's the one film critic they can name. He loomed so large. Especially toward the end of his life." -- Film critic Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, who writes for rogerebert.com and was a host on Ebert's 2011 show "Ebert Presents at the Movies."
"we lost a thoughtful writer, i remember my first review from him, pi (i got his and siskel's thumbs) it was a career highlight." -- Darren Aronofsky, who directed the 1998 movie "Pi," wrote on Twitter.
"I watched him a lot. I watched his thumbs go up. I watched his thumbs go down. And when they went up for me I was very happy." -- Playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein.
"Sometimes you loved him. Sometimes you hated him as you do every critic. But I was thinking - I think that a great critic is somebody that has a real love for what he's criticizing, and I think he was that." -- Actress Glenn Close.
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