John J. O'Connor

Who was John J. O'Connor?

John J. O'Connor was an American journalist and critic.

One of four sons born to Irish immigrant parents, he earned his bachelor's degree from City College of New York and his master's degree from Yale University.

He began his career as a copy editor at The Wall Street Journal in 1959, later becoming the Journal's arts editor and theater and dance critic, in which capacity he continued at The New York Times. He served at the Times for 25 years, mostly as a television critic. O'Connor was diagnosed with lung cancer four weeks before his death at the age of 76.