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Roger Ebert Dies at 70 After Long Battle With Cancer

by Brett Malec Today 1:17 PM PDT

Jesse Grant/Getty Images

Roger Ebert has passed away.

The legendary film critic died at the age of 70 after years of battling cancer, the Chicago Sun-Times confirms.

Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in 2002 and underwent several surgeries since then to battle the disease. He had part of his jaw removed in 2006, but courageously refused to hide from the public after the image-altering surgery.

Ebert's iconic career spans over 45 years. In 1975, he became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Ebert reviewed movies for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years as well as reviewing on TV for 31. He was also a screenwriter, having cowritten 1970's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

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"So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me," Ebert posted on his official blog just two days ago. "I'll see you at the movies."

His longtime film critic partner and cohost of Siskel & Ebert At the Movies Gene Siskel died in 1999 from surgical complications.

Ebert is survived by his wife, step-daughter and two step-grandchildren.

(Originally published April 4, 2013 at 12:53 p.m. PT)