Movie critic Siegel dies of colon cancer at 63
by The Associated Press on Jun. 30, 2007, under Nation/World
Siegel
NEW YORK – Joel Siegel, a longtime movie critic for WABC-TV and “Good Morning America” who racked up five New York Emmy Awards for his insightful work, died Friday, the television station said. He was 63.
The station said Siegel, who was famous for his weekly reviews, had been battling colon cancer.
Siegel was known for his sense of humor, movie acumen and sharp judgment. He never let an actor off the hook if the performance was lackluster.
Born in Los Angeles on July 7, 1943, Siegel graduated cum laude from UCLA. After college, he started writing for the Los Angeles Times, where he reviewed books.
He landed in New York City in 1972 and worked as a reporter for WCBS-TV.
He also hosted “Joel Siegel’s New York” on WCBS Radio. Four years later he jumped to WABC-TV, cementing his reputation as a film critic over the next three decades.
In 1981, he joined “Good Morning America” and became a regular as the network’s entertainment editor, easily recognizable by his thick mustache and glasses.
He survived by his son, Dylan, and wife, Ena Swansea.
