Though voiceless, Roger Ebert will speak at New York Times event

NEW YORK – For nearly 50 years, Roger Ebert has been the most prominent and influential voice among the ranks of America’s film critics. But in recent years, after three major surgeries to battle thyroid cancer he’s been left unable to speak.

But he has not been silenced. Ebert still writes movie reviews for the Chicago Sun Times, composes an influential blog on movies and other topics, produces a new public television movie review show and clearly loves movies and life with as much passion and analytical insight as ever.

On Tuesday evening, Ebert will sit down with fellow critic, A.O. Scott of the New York Times, to discuss (with assistance from a computer) movies, film criticism and his life as revealed in his new memoir, “Life Itself.” And folks in Oklahoma can submit questions and listen in to this sold-out event, part of the ongoing TimesTalks series staged at gleaming new Times Center, 242 W. 41st St.

The discussion is set for 6:30-8 p.m. (eastern time) Tuesday. Viewers can watch the program life on the web at Livestream.com/nytimes.com, and they can submit questions to Ebert via email at TimesTalks@nytimes.com.

Ebert, the first film critic ever to win a Pulitzer Prize, has been credited, along with his late fellow critic Gene Siskel, with bringing the once-arcane art of movie criticism to wide popularity with their long-running public TV show of movie reviews and barbed banter.