Renowned Argentine Journalist Samuel "Chiche" Gelblung Dies at 82

Samuel "Chiche" Gelblung, a prominent figure in Argentine media for over six decades, died on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the age of 82. He passed away in a clinic in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires after being treated in intensive care for respiratory problems linked to a pre existing condition. He had been admitted to the Sanatorio Mater Dei on Monday before being transferred to Sanatorio Los Arcos. His death follows a year of significant health challenges, including a fall in April, the placement of two stents in the same month, and a month spent in intensive care in June due to thrombosis in his ankle. Despite these complications, colleagues noted that he remained professionally active until the day before his final hospitalization, working on a new streaming program.

Gelblung's career spanned print, radio, and television. He began at Gente magazine in 1966 and later served as its director between 1976 and 1978. He gained widespread popularity in the 1990s with his television program Memoria on Canal 9, where he blended investigation with the unusual. He was known for a confrontational and incisive style, which included a tense 2024 interview with President Javier Milei regarding the economic crisis and food shortages in community kitchens. A notable moment in his career occurred in 1995 when he staged a fake alien autopsy on live television to debunk a fraudulent report.

Following the announcement of his death by Crónica TV, political leaders and media personalities offered tributes. Former President Mauricio Macri described him as an authentic and intelligent journalist, while Senator Patricia Bullrich praised his honesty. Colleagues such as Jorge Rial and Jonatan Viale described him as a professional animal and a master of the craft. His wake was held at the AMIA funeral home in Villa Crespo, with the funeral procession departing for La Tablada Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.