Roger and Chaz had a relationship for the ages.
Photo—Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Roger Ebert, one of the most beloved and respected film critics passed away this week. Whether you loved him for his keen eye for movies, good writing, or his ability to tell you just exactly which movies you’ll love, he will be missed. He also had a wonderful marriage with his wife, Chaz. Here are some facts about them that will warm your heart. Rest in peace, Roger.
Roger Ebert passed away today at 70, and we are saddened to lose perhaps the most legendary film critic of our time. Throughout his career Ebert wrote sharply about the movies, but on his blog for the Chicago Sun-Times he often wrote emotional entries about his other passions, including his wife, Chaz. Just last July the pair celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Ebert marked the occasion with the post Roger Loves Chaz, an ode to their relationship and Chaz’s unfaltering love. Our hearts go out to Chaz, who will hopefully find solace in the fact that they shared such a special bond. To honor Ebert’s legacy, read on for some hopelessly romantic details about their relationship.
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They Were Introduced Through Ann Landers
“We like to tell people we were introduced by Ann Landers, which is technically true,” Roger Ebert has said. He was out with advice columnist Eppie Lederer, known as Ann Landers, when he noticed Chaz sitting at a nearby table. He recalled, “I didn’t know her, but I’d seen her before and was attracted. I liked her looks, her voluptuous figure, and the way she presented herself. She took a lot of care with her appearance and her clothes never looked quickly thrown together. She seemed to be holding the attention of her table.” When he approached the table with Eppie, they were all introduced.
He Proposed in Monte Carlo
Roger wasn’t expecting to propose when they were sitting at a Monte Carlo café. They were on a mini-road trip while attending the Cannes Film Festival, and he just couldn’t help himself. But he said if he could do it over again, he would do it differently. His advice was: “Always propose marriage in a place you love and want to come back to.”
She Was His Business Partner
Chaz, an attorney, resigned from her firm when she and Roger married to become vice president of Ebert Company. He insisted it wasn’t just a title. “She organized my contracts, protected my interests, negotiated, wheeled and dealed. I’ve never understood business and have no patience with business meetings or legal details. I had a weakness for signing things just to make them go away. She observed this, and defended me. It was a partnership.”
She Stuck With Him to the End
“In the hospital, day after day, she was my staff of strength,” Ebert wrote. “In the rehabilitations she cheered me through every faltering step, and when I looked at a flight of three steps I was intended to climb, it was her will that helped me lift my feet.”
Correction: this article was originally posted with an incorrect photo. We apologize for the error.
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Thank you for this beautiful piece. And thank you very much for correcting the photo. It was very unsettling to see the original picture and realize that was NOT Chaz. 🙁
where’s the fifth fact?
I’m pretty sure that’s not Chaz Ebert in that photo.