Film critic and talk show host Bobby Rivers has died in Minneapolis, according to WISN. He was 70 years old.

His sister, Betsy Rivers, confirmed his death in a Facebook post that has since been made private. “Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in any pain,” she wrote, per Variety. She also confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away in a Minneapolis hospital after experiencing a series of strokes and a bout of lung cancer.

Rivers was known as a trailblazing television host and entertainment reporter who got his start as Milwuakee’s first Black film critic on television at WISN in 1979.

He later moved on to VH1 with his own talk show, Watch Bobby Rivers, where he interviewed several celebs including Meryl Streep and Paul McCartney.

Many have come forward to pay tribute to the trailblazing reporter, including Katie Couric and Whoopi Goldberg.

“I am so sad to hear this. Bobby was a terrific guy and wonderfully warm, funny and smart,” Couric wrote in a tweet.

Goldberg shared an image of herself and Rivers to Instagram, writing, “All hail this pioneer Bobby Rivers… He brought SO much to the table. R I P Bobby.” He and Goldberg worked together from 2006 to 2008 on her Wake Up With Whoopi radio talk show, where he reviewed films.

He later launched his own blog, Bobby Rivers TV, in 2011, in which he continued his passion for covering film and television. He kept up with his blog until this past November, according to Variety.

Rivers is survived by his siblings, Tony and Betsy.