Bobby Rivers, pathbreaking TV host and film critic, dies at 70… as tributes roll in from stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Katie Couric
- Rivers' sister announced his death on Facebook on Wednesday
- He broke barriers as Milwaukee's first Black film critic on television
- Rivers later graduated as a host of shows on VH1 and Food Network
Bobby Rivers, the popular film critic and talk show host, has died at the age of 70.
Rivers broke barriers as Milwaukee's first black film critic to be a regular on television, and he went on to have high-profile hosting gigs on Food Network and VH1, including his eponymous talk show Watch Bobby Rivers.
WISN revealed that Rivers had died in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
His sister confirmed his death on Wednesday Facebook which was then deleted or set to private, writing that “Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in pain,” via Variety.
The late host was honored on social media by his friends and admirers, including Whoopi Goldberg, Katie Couric and Mario Cantone of Sex And The City.
Bobby Rivers, the popular film critic turned talk show host, has died at the age of 70. He broke barriers as Milwaukee's first Black film critic on television before graduating as the host of shows on Food Network and VH1; seen in 2002 in New York City
Rivers died Tuesday in Minneapolis, according to WISN. Famous anchors, journalists and actors paid tribute to him, including Whoopi Goldberg and Katie Couric; seen in 2008 in New York
“Hello this pioneer Bobby Rivers… He brought SO much to the table. RIP Bobby,” Goldberg shared on Instagram with a year-old photo of herself and Rivers beaming next to each other.
Couric wrote that she was “so sad to hear this” in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“Bobby was a great guy and wonderfully warm, funny and smart,” she added.