Tom Shales Cause of Death

Tom Shales, a renowned TV critic and Pulitzer Prize winner for The Washington Post, has passed away at the age of 79 due to complications from COVID and renal failure, as confirmed by his caretaker Victor Herfurth.

Joining The Post in 1972 as a Style section writer, Shales quickly ascended to the position of chief television critic in 1977. Over the next three decades, he became known for his astute cultural commentary during the burgeoning era of cable TV. His insightful reviews covered a diverse spectrum of small-screen content, ranging from late-night talk shows to State of the Union speeches and from network sitcoms to nightly news programs.

In 1988, Shales was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, acknowledging his remarkable collection of work from 1987. Among the notable pieces was “Bork and Biden,” a witty and incisive review of the Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. The review, which likened the proceedings to a “TV successor to Mork and Mindy,” was published before Bork’s confirmation was ultimately rejected.

In 2006, Shales accepted a buyout from The Post but continued as a contracted contributor for an additional four years, ultimately feeling that he was somewhat unceremoniously edged out due to his annual salary of around $400,000.

During his tenure at The Post, Shales also brought his acerbic wit to the world of cinema as a frequent film critic for NPR, where he contributed to Morning Edition for two decades. In 1997, while praising the re-issue of the first Star Wars film, Shales highlighted the film’s differentiation from imitators, emphasizing that its success was not solely driven by special effects but grounded in a compelling story with the primal pull of ancient myth and the romantic charms of a fairy tale.

However, Shales didn’t shy away from criticism, as evidenced by his scathing review of the 2001 teen sex comedy sequel, American Pie 2. He denounced the film for its reliance on “cheap gross-outs and smutty pranks,” asserting that it was crafted with what he perceived as absolute cynicism and contempt for its target audience.