What happened to Tom Shales?

Tom Shales, a television critic who earned a Pulitzer Prize during his nearly four-decade tenure at The Washington Post, has passed away at the age of 79.

He died on Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County, Virginia, succumbing to complications from COVID-19 and renal failure, as reported by his caretaker, Victor Herfurth, to The Post.

Shales commenced his enduring career with The Post in 1977, assuming the role of chief TV critic after spending five years as a writer in the style section. Throughout his extensive tenure, he gained recognition for his incisive commentary on various facets of television, including stars, trends, and network executives.

Born on Nov. 3, 1944, in Elgin, Illinois, as Thomas William Shales, he embarked on his journalism career after attending a local community college and transferring to American University. During his time at the university, he served as the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, Shales worked as an entertainment editor at the D.C. Examiner. Joining The Post as a style writer in 1972, he ascended to the position of chief TV critic in 1977 and later took on the role of the newspaper’s TV editor in 1979.

Shales, who never married, leaves behind no immediate survivors.