Celebrated movie critic Roger Ebert passes away after battle with cancer

Legendary movie critic Roger Ebert has passed away after an extended battle with cancer, the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed on Thursday.

“There is a hole that can't be filled. One of the greats has left us,” the newspaper wrote in confirming the news.

Ebert, 70, earned a Pulitzer Prize over the course of his career and was celebrated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He reviewed as many as 300 movies a year, every year, because that’s what he loved.

His loss will be felt in Hollywood, in living rooms across North America and online, where the sharp-witted writer found a voice when his was threatened by cancer.

[ Related: Film critic Roger Ebert says cancer has returned ]

"He loved movies. Except for those he hated," Sun-Times writer Neil Steinberg wrote on Thursday, in an article on the celebrated movie critic.

Ebert is perhaps the only person in entertainment history to deserve the title "celebrated movie critic.” He had reviewed films for the Chicago newspaper for 46 years. He also appeared on television for more than 30 years.

In recent years, Ebert battled cancer in his thyroid and salivary glands, an affliction that cost him part of his lower jaw in 2006. His death comes just two days after he announced a "leave of presence" from his position at the newspaper in order to focus on his battle with cancer.

"It means I am not going away," he wrote on his blog post Tuesday. "I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."

His intention was to continue writing occasional reviews for the Sun-Times, and take a more active role in his personal website. He was the inspiration behind an annual film festival, Ebertfest, which celebrating its 15th year later this month. And he was on the verge of relaunching his show "At the Movies," which had gone on hiatus two years ago.

His last blog post for the Chicago Sun-Times, addressing his deteriorating health, ends with words more poignant now than he had intended.

“So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies.”