Jay Carr, a renowned film critic, began his writing career at the New York Post from 1957 to 1964, establishing a national reputation that would precede him. Prior to that, he wrote for The Detroit News from 1954 to 1983, earning the prestigious George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism in 1970-1971, presented by the English department chairs of Princeton, Yale, and Cornell universities.
In 1983, Carr joined The Boston Globe, where he served as chief film critic until 2002. Throughout his career, he was an active member of the Boston Society Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics. His contributions to the world of film were recognized by the French government in 1989, when he was named Chevalier, Ordre des Arts et Lettres for his writings on French cinema.
Carr's expertise and eloquence also led to his appointment to The Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Board in 1995, the body responsible for recommending films to be included in the National Film Registry. He was a Pulitzer finalist and served on selection committees for the Pulitzer, Tony, and Golden Globe Awards for many years.
At the time of his passing, Carr was still actively serving on the selection committee for the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. He also edited and contributed six essays to the National Society of Film Critics' best-selling anthology, The A-List: The 100 Essential Films.
Carr's remarkable ability to effortlessly draw upon his vast knowledge of film, drama, and music, combined with his wit and eloquence, made his weekly segment on New England Cable News a popular attraction and fostered interest in his lectures across the nation.
