The world's most popular film critic is about to undergo cancer surgery for the fourth time in as many years. The Rotten Tomatoes staff and readership would like to wish Mr. Ebert a full and speedy recovery.

From The Chicago Sun Times: "It's the sequel no one wanted to see: Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert, who battled back from cancer three times before, will be undergoing cancer surgery again.

The Pulitzer Prize winner and host of the nationally syndicated movie review show "Ebert & Roeper" said Wednesday he will have surgery June 16 -- two days before his 64th birthday -- to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland.

"It is not life threatening, and I expect to make a full recovery," he said. "I'll continue to function as a film critic during this time."

Ebert had surgery to remove a malignant tumor on his thyroid gland in 2002 and two surgeries on his salivary gland in 2003.

Unlike those earlier procedures, Ebert is not expected to require radiation therapy this time.

"This is known as a slow growing and persistent cancer," he said. "You live with it."

Ebert, who returned this week from the Cannes Film Festival in France, said he plans to tape enough shows in advance with his co-host, Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, to keep him on the air during his recovery."

Ebert has been movie critic at the Sun-Times since 1967. He was honored last year with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and with a sidewalk medallion under the Chicago Theatre marquee."