Jay Carr(1936-2014)

Before becoming well-known as a prolific film critic at the Boston Globe, Jay Carr wrote for the New York Post from 1957 to 1964 and established a national reputation while writing for The Detroit News from 1954-1983, winning the 1970-1971 George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism, bestowed by the English department chairs of Princeton, Yale and Cornell universities. He joined The Boston Globe in 1983, where he was chief film critic until 2002. He was also a member of the Boston Society Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics. In 1989, he was named Chevalier, Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government for his writings on French film. In 1995, he was named to The Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Board, the body that recommends films to be named to the National Film Registry. He was a Pulitzer finalist and for many years served on selection committees for the Pulitzer, Tony and Golden Globe Awards.

At the time of his death he was serving on the selection committee for the The National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. He edited and wrote six essays for the National Society of Film Critics' best-selling anthology, The A-List: The 100 Essential Films. His ability to draw effortlessly upon a vast knowledge of film, drama and music, plus his eloquence and wit, made his weekly segment on New England Cable News a popular one and fostered interest in his lectures nationally.