Michael Silverblatt, 'Genius' Host of KCRW's 'Bookworm,' Dies at 73

The longtime radio personality was known for his in-depth interviews with celebrated authors.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Michael Silverblatt, the longtime host of the KCRW radio show 'Bookworm,' has died at the age of 73. Silverblatt's 30-minute show, which ran from 1989 to 2022 and was nationally syndicated, included interviews with celebrated authors including Gore Vidal, Kazuo Ishiguro, David Foster Wallace, Susan Orlean, Joan Didion and Zadie Smith.

Why it matters

Silverblatt's 'Bookworm' show represented one of the most significant archives of conversations with major literary powerhouses from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, providing a unique platform for authors to discuss their work in-depth.

The details

Silverblatt, a Brooklyn native, developed a love of reading as a child and went on to approach famous authors he encountered as a college student at the University at Buffalo. He later moved to Los Angeles and met KCRW's Ruth Seymour, who encouraged him to do radio. Silverblatt hosted 'Bookworm' for 33 years, earning a reputation as a 'genius' interviewer who could mesmerize his subjects with his depth of knowledge about their work.

  • Silverblatt's 'Bookworm' show ran from 1989 to 2022.
  • Silverblatt died on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Michael Silverblatt

The longtime host of the KCRW radio show 'Bookworm,' known for his in-depth interviews with celebrated authors.

Ruth Seymour

The longtime head of KCRW who encouraged Silverblatt to do radio after meeting him at a dinner party in Los Angeles.

Alan Howard

The editor of 'Bookworm' for 31 years, who called Silverblatt a 'genius' and praised the show's extraordinary archive of author interviews.

Jennifer Ferro

The current president of KCRW, who described Silverblatt as a 'singular person' with a unique voice for radio.

Alan Felsenthal

A poet who considered Silverblatt a mentor and described the show as creating a space of 'infinite compassion' for writers.

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What they’re saying

“Michael was a genius. He could be mesmerizing and always, always, always brilliant.”

— Alan Howard, Editor of 'Bookworm' (Los Angeles Times)

“It's an extraordinary archive that exists, and I don't think anyone else has ever created such an archive of intelligent, interesting people being asked about their work.”

— Alan Howard, Editor of 'Bookworm' (Los Angeles Times)

“Michael was one of a kind, truly singular. And his voice is too.”

— Alan Felsenthal, Poet (Los Angeles Times)

“He had a voice you would never expect would be on radio.”

— Jennifer Ferro, President of KCRW (Los Angeles Times)

“The books I love the most made it harder for me to live.”

— Michael Silverblatt (Los Angeles Times)

The takeaway

Silverblatt's 'Bookworm' show was a unique and influential platform that provided an extraordinary archive of in-depth conversations with some of the most celebrated authors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, showcasing his exceptional depth of knowledge and ability to create a space of 'infinite compassion' for writers to share their work.