Editing Will Shortz

{{Short description|American puzzle creator and editor (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Will Shortz
| image              = Will Shortz at ACPT 2023 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Shortz in March 2023
| birth_name         = William F. Shortz<ref>{{cite news|last=Shortz|first=William F.|year=1973|title=British Word Puzzles (1700–1800)|journal=Word Ways|volume=6|issue=3|url=https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol6/iss3/2/|archive-date=August 19, 2024|access-date=May 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819051349/https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol6/iss3/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1952|8|26}}<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1563150037802045442|user=NYTGames|author=[[The New York Times Games|New York Times Games]]|date=2022-08-26|title=A big happy 70th birthday to Will Shortz!|access-date=2024-05-04}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Crawfordsville, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| education          = [[Indiana University Bloomington]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])<br />[[University of Virginia]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]])
| occupation         = Crossword editor<br />Table tennis center owner
| party              = 
| alias              = The Puzzlemaster
| title              = 
| family             = 
| spouse             = 
| children           = 
| relatives          = 
| credits            = ''[[New York Times crossword puzzle|New York Times]]'' puzzle editor (since 1993), [[NPR]]'s ''[[Weekend Edition|Weekend Edition Sunday]]'' puzzlemaster (since 1987)
| agent              = 
| URL                = 
}}

'''William F. Shortz''' (born August 26, 1952) is an American puzzle creator and editor who is the [[The New York Times crossword puzzle|crossword]] editor for ''[[The New York Times]]''. He graduated from [[Indiana University]] with a degree in the invented field of [[enigmatology]]. After starting his career at [[Penny Publications|Penny Press]] and ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]'' magazine, he was hired by ''The New York Times'' in 1993. Shortz's [[American Crossword Puzzle Tournament]] is the country's oldest and largest crossword tournament.

==Early life and education==
Shortz was born on August 26, 1952, and raised on an [[Arabian horse]] farm in [[Crawfordsville, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianapublicmedia.org/momentofindianahistory/hoosier-puzzlemaster-ii/ |title=Hoosier Puzzlemaster II|first=Yaël|last=Ksander |date=June 4, 2007|publisher=[[Indiana Public Media]]|access-date=2024-05-04}}</ref> He was drawn to puzzles at an early age; in eighth grade he wrote a paper titled "Puzzles as a Profession".<ref name="Hiltner">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/insider/will-shortz-a-profile-of-a-lifelong-puzzle-master.html|title=Will Shortz: A Profile of a Lifelong Puzzle Master|last=Hiltner|first=Stephen|date=2017-08-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903160955/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/insider/will-shortz-a-profile-of-a-lifelong-puzzle-master.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (The paper earned him a B+.)<ref name="Hiltner"/> At age 13, Shortz wrote to ''[[Language on Vacation]]'' author [[Dmitri Borgmann]] for advice on how to pursue a career in puzzles.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Simmons |first=Mark |date=Winter 2006 |title=NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz |journal=Games Quarterly |pages=24 }}</ref> At age 16, Shortz began regularly contributing crossword puzzles to [[Dell Publishing]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Will Shortz|url=https://www.npr.org/people/2101852/will-shortz|access-date=2020-11-12|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref> He eventually graduated from [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]] in 1974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/7726.html|title=Puzzlemaster Will Shortz to present IU's 2008 commencement address|date=April 1, 2008|access-date=September 6, 2008|archive-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911080502/http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/7726.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and is the only person known to hold a college degree in [[enigmatology]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/OCM/releases/shortz.htm |publisher=[[Indiana University Bloomington]] |title=''New York Times'' crossword editor to give "puzzling" lecture at IU |date=March 29, 2000 |access-date=July 25, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026120208/http://newsinfo.iu.edu/OCM/releases/shortz.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2005 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> the study of [[puzzle]]s. Shortz wrote his thesis about the history of American word puzzles.<ref name="c-span.org">{{Cite web|title=Indiana University Commencement Address {{!}} C-SPAN.org|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?205168-1/indiana-university-commencement-address#|access-date=2020-11-12|website=www.c-span.org|language=en-us}}</ref> Shortz achieved this by designing his own curriculum through Indiana University's Individualized Major Program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMP: Individualized Major Program: Indiana University Bloomington |url=https://imp.indiana.edu/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Indiana University Bloomington |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217005357/https://imp.indiana.edu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also earned a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] (1977), but did not sit for the [[bar exam]] and began a career in puzzles instead.<ref name="UVA">{{cite web |url=http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=4773 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805211728/http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=4773 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-05 |title=University of Virginia news item |publisher=Virginia.edu |date=2008-04-03 |access-date=2013-11-26 }}</ref> Shortz is the author or editor of more than 100 books and owns over 20,000 puzzle books and magazines dating back to 1545, reportedly the world's largest private library on the subject.<ref name="Courier-Mail">{{Cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20649110-5003420,00.html |title="Puzzle pundit has a word", ''Australian Courier-Mail'', 28 October 2006 |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-date=September 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920030225/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20649110-5003420,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He is a member and historian of the [[National Puzzlers' League]].

==Career==
Shortz began his career at [[Penny Publications|Penny Press Magazines]],<ref name=UVA /> then moved to ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]'' magazine for 15 years, and was its editor from 1989 to 1990, when the magazine temporarily folded. He was rehired in late 1991, then let go in August 1993.<ref name="OpenDoor">{{cite news |last1=Marbella |first1=Jean |title=Crossword editor opens the door to innovation across the board Shortz story |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-11-22-1993326127-story.html |access-date=15 October 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=22 November 1993}}</ref> A few months later he became the [[crossword]] puzzle editor for ''[[The New York Times]]'', the fourth in the paper's history, following [[Eugene Thomas Maleska]].<ref name="TimesAnnounce">{{cite news |title=The Times Names A New Puzzle Editor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/11/arts/the-times-names-a-new-puzzle-editor.html |access-date=15 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=11 October 1993 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029183448/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/11/arts/the-times-names-a-new-puzzle-editor.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shortz has been the puzzle master on [[NPR]]'s ''[[Weekend Edition]] Sunday'' since the program was started in 1987. He is the founder of the [[American Crossword Puzzle Tournament]] (1978), and has been its director since that time. He founded the [[World Puzzle Championship]] in 1992 and is a director of the [[United States Puzzle Championship|U.S. Puzzle Team]]. Shortz is also a weekly guest on NPR's ''[[Weekend Edition Sunday]]'' where he hosts the Sunday Puzzle, a cooperative game between the show's host and one of the show's listeners. The lucky player is picked randomly from a group of submissions containing the correct answer to a qualifier puzzle issued the week before.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sunday Puzzle|url=https://www.npr.org/series/4473090/sunday-puzzle|access-date=2013-11-26|publisher=Npr.org|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402064021/https://www.npr.org/series/4473090/sunday-puzzle|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2009, Shortz helped introduce the [[KenKen]] puzzle into ''The New York Times''.<ref>Stephey, M. J., [https://web.archive.org/web/20090305151725/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1882455,00.html "Puzzle Guru Will Shortz."]. ''Time'' March 2, 2009. June 15, 2009.</ref> In 2013, Shortz lent his name and talents in puzzle writing and editing to a new bimonthly publication entitled ''Will Shortz' WordPlay'', published by [[Penny Press]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pennydellpuzzles.com/product.aspx?c=varietysubscriptions&p=WP |title=PennyPress official page for WILL SHORTZ' WORDPLAY |access-date=September 1, 2014 |archive-date=September 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909115618/http://www.pennydellpuzzles.com/product.aspx?c=varietysubscriptions&p=WP |url-status=live }}</ref> He has said that his favorite crossword of all time is the [[1996 United States presidential election|Election Day]] crossword of November 5, 1996, designed by [[Jeremiah Farrell]]. It had two correct solutions with the same set of clues, one saying that the "Lead story in tomorrow's newspaper (!)" would be "BOB DOLE ELECTED", and the other correct solution saying "CLINTON ELECTED".<ref>[[American Crossword Puzzle Tournament]]: [http://www.crosswordtournament.com/articles/cnn032702.htm "Business Unusual: Will Shortz"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006025628/http://www.crosswordtournament.com/articles/cnn032702.htm |date=October 6, 2006 }}</ref> His favorite individual clue is "It might turn into a different story" (whose solution is [[wikt:spiral staircase|SPIRAL STAIRCASE]]).<ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Clive|title=New York Magazine|date=June 7, 2006|url=http://nymag.com/arts/all/features/17244/|access-date=2013-11-26|publisher=Nymag.com|archive-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202084535/http://nymag.com/arts/all/features/17244/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to his work as a crossword editor, Shortz is a skilled [[table tennis]] player. He has co-owned the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York since 2009, and has been playing table tennis daily for the past 11 years. This dedication to the sport reflects his dedication to puzzles, with mementos and awards from his childhood displayed in the center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting to know the Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz. |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/05/1214755852/perspective-getting-to-know-the-puzzlemaster-will-shortz}}</ref>

=== Controversies ===
In 2017, Shortz published a ''Times'' crossword by a prisoner named Lonnie Burton who was convicted of raping a 15-year-old boy, in addition to having burglary and robbery charges, prompting backlash from some solvers.<ref name="GetCross">{{cite news |last1=Person |first1=Daniel |title=Crossword fans get cross over a Washington inmate's puzzle |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/crossword-fans-get-cross-over-a-washington-inmates-puzzle/ |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=HeraldNet.com |date=17 April 2017 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921125016/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/crossword-fans-get-cross-over-a-washington-inmates-puzzle/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortz did not include the reason for Burton's imprisonment in his accompanying blog post. Burton had previously had crosswords published in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.<ref name=":0" /> The ''Times'' [[public editor]] [[Liz Spayd]] wrote in an article on the decision, "What I question is the decision not to tell readers what Burton did. [...] I understand Shortz’ reflex to hold back such dark information given the levity of a puzzle, but not doing so may have made matters worse. It left some readers with the feeling of being tricked."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Spayd|first=Liz|date=2017-04-11|title=A Crossword as a Second Chance Troubles Many Readers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/public-editor/a-crossword-as-a-second-chance-troubles-many-readers.html|access-date=2021-09-21|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

At various times in his career Shortz has apologized for cluing decisions that sparked public backlash for being racist, sexist or offensive.<ref name="TheOutline">{{Cite web|last=Jeffries|first=Adrianne|title=The NYT crossword is old and kind of racist|url=https://theoutline.com/post/1651/the-nyt-crossword-is-old-and-kind-of-racist|access-date=2021-09-18|website=The Outline|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hateful">{{Cite web|last=Graham|first=Ruth|date=2016-06-28|title=Tuesday's New York Times Crossword Has a "Hateful" 31 Down. Why So Clueless?|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/06/the-new-york-times-crossword-can-be-clueless-about-race-and-gender.html|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Slate|language=en|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026112416/https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/06/the-new-york-times-crossword-can-be-clueless-about-race-and-gender.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, ''The New York Times'' issued an apology after Shortz chose to publish the racial slur "[[Beaner|BEANER]]" in the crossword, cluing it as "Pitch to the head, informally".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-02|title=NY Times Crossword Editor Apologizes for 'Slur' in New Year's Day Puzzle|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ny-times-crossword-editor-apologizes-for-slur-in-new-years-day-puzzle/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=TheWrap|language=en-US|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021211225/https://www.thewrap.com/ny-times-crossword-editor-apologizes-for-slur-in-new-years-day-puzzle/|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortz admitted that he saw the derogatory definition when he researched the word, but claimed he had never personally heard it, and explained that as long as a word also has a "benign" meaning, it meets his editorial standards for publication. Shortz defended his use of "BEANER" and noted he has published and stands by the benign meanings of the terms "[[chink|CHINK]]" and "GO OK" (or "[[gook|GOOK]]"), both slurs for people of Asian descent.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Amlen|first=Deb|date=2019-01-01|title=Barely Adequate|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2019-01-01.html|access-date=2021-09-18|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912044118/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2019-01-01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, more than 600 crossword constructors and solvers signed an [[open letter]] to the executive director of ''Times'' puzzles asking for changes and expressing concerns regarding the diversity within the puzzle department at the ''Times'' and the puzzle itself.<ref name = "OpenLetter">{{Cite web|title=Letter to the Executive Director of Puzzles at the New York Times|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rqrdYJJtcHe3jsHyCbMoTJUl2GJ5QiA8ina22ElFzrk/mobilebasic|access-date=2021-09-18|archive-date=September 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918162727/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rqrdYJJtcHe3jsHyCbMoTJUl2GJ5QiA8ina22ElFzrk/mobilebasic|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Vice600">{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=Samantha |title=New York Times Crossword Constructors Are Fighting Against its Systemic Bias |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/new-york-times-crossword-constructors-are-fighting-against-its-systemic-bias/ |access-date=20 September 2021 |work=Vice.com |language=en}}</ref> The letter also described the resignation of Claire Muscat, a woman who was hired as a test-solver, who resigned because of what she described as being hired to provide a perfunctory [[tokenism|token female]] perspective.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-28|title=We Should Smash the Crossword Patriarchy|url=https://nwlc.org/blog/we-should-smash-the-crossword-patriarchy/|access-date=2021-09-19|publisher=NWLC|language=en-US|archive-date=September 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919031630/https://nwlc.org/blog/we-should-smash-the-crossword-patriarchy/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Last|first=Natan|date=2020-03-18|title=The Hidden Bigotry of Crosswords|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/03/fight-to-make-crosswords-more-inclusive/608212/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=The Atlantic|language=en|archive-date=September 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912040125/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/03/fight-to-make-crosswords-more-inclusive/608212/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "OpenLetter"/>

==Honors and awards==

* On May 3, 2008, Shortz gave the commencement speech for his alma mater, Indiana University. As an introduction to his speech, Shortz quizzed the audience on well-known IU graduates and their unconventional majors. He advised recent graduates to pick a career in which they "don't mind the least interesting parts." Shortz apparently also wrote brainteasers and a hidden message that were included in the printed commencement program.<ref name="c-span.org"/>
* In May 2010, he was given an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from [[Wabash College]] in Crawfordsville, Indiana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=8093 |title=Wabash College: News Crawfordsville, Indiana |publisher=Wabash.edu |date=2010-05-16 |access-date=2013-11-26 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523040045/http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=8093 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In 2012, he received the [[Sam Loyd Award]] from the Association for Games & Puzzles International for creating interest in mechanical puzzles.<ref>[http://www.agpc.org/index.php/awards/128-association-awards Association Awards: Sam Loyd Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103091909/http://www.agpc.org/index.php/awards/128-association-awards |date=November 3, 2018 }} Association for Games & Puzzles International</ref>
* In May 2016, he gave the commencement speech at the University of Virginia Law School Commencement.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-27|title=Graduation Speaker Will Shortz '77 Says UVA Law Students Smart Enough to Fill in Blanks|url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/201605/graduation-speaker-will-shortz-77-says-uva-law-students-smart-enough-fill-blanks|access-date=2020-11-12|website=University of Virginia School of Law|language=en}}</ref>
* In May 2018, Shortz was given an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Indiana University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Will Shortz: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University |url=https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/awards/honoree/1059.html |website=University Honors & Awards |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
[[File:Will Shortz 2006.jpg|thumb|Shortz in 2006]]

=== Television appearances ===

* Shortz has been a guest on TV talk shows, including ''[[Martha Stewart Living]]'', ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show|Oprah]]'',<ref>''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'': [http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200702/20070201/slide_20070201_350_105.jhtml "How'd They Do That?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210223506/http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200702/20070201/slide_20070201_350_105.jhtml |date=February 10, 2007 }}</ref> ''[[The Daily Show]]'', and ''[[The Colbert Report]]''.  
* He has appeared on ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US game show)|Millionaire]]'' as an expert for the "Ask the Expert" lifeline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0sXe2152jk |title=Will on Millionaire Wednesday |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-11-26 |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref>  
* Shortz appeared on an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' titled "[[Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words]]", which first aired on November 16, 2008. 
* Shortz appeared in ''[[Dinner: Impossible]]'' as himself, challenging the chef to create dishes that mimic common English [[idiom]]s at the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. The episode aired on May 6, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |author=TV.com |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/dinner-impossible/crossword-puzzle-crisis-1264110/ |title=TV.com |publisher=TV.com |date=2009-05-06 |access-date=2013-11-26 |archive-date=July 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713052212/http://www.tv.com/shows/dinner-impossible/crossword-puzzle-crisis-1264110/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 
* He appeared on an episode of ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' titled "[[Robots Versus Wrestlers]]", which first aired on May 10, 2010, during season 5. He appeared as himself at an upscale dinner party that included [[Arianna Huffington]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]], also playing themselves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20100405cbs02/ |title=Listings &#124; TheFutonCritic.com – The Web's Best Television Resource |publisher=TheFutonCritic.com |date=2010-05-10 |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref>
* On December 18, 2015, he presented the answers on ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' in the category "The New York Times Crossword".<ref>{{cite web|title=We asked: NYT crossword editor Will Shortz|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/highlights/we-asked-will-shortz|publisher=Jeopardy.com|date=December 18, 2015|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806061719/https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/highlights/we-asked-will-shortz|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* Shortz was mentioned in passing in ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'' episodes "The Mattress"<ref>{{Citation|title="Brooklyn Nine-Nine" The Mattress (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4371310/trivia|access-date=2020-10-25|archive-date=June 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621081739/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4371310/trivia/|url-status=live}}</ref> and "Mr. Santiago" before guest-starring in the 2018 episode "[[The Puzzle Master]]" as Sam Jepson, a rival puzzler to Vin Stermley.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Brooklyn Nine-Nine" the Puzzle Master (TV Episode 2018)|website=[[IMDb]]|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7802280/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|access-date=June 10, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413011319/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7802280/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2018, Shortz was featured on [[HBO]]'s ''[[Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel]]'' (ep. 254, May 2018).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – May 2018|url=https://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/all-episodes/may-2018}}</ref>
* In 2020, Shortz was the "central character" on an episode of ''[[To Tell the Truth]]''. Actress [[Gillian Jacobs]] identified him almost immediately due to recognizing his voice from ''Weekend Edition'' on NPR.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Various |title=Did Supergirl Suit Overdo It? Why Did Soaps Story Snub Santa Barbara? What the 'Fork, Killing Eve? And More TV Qs |url=https://tvline.com/2020/05/22/supergirl-season-5-finale-alex-costume-tv-questions-answers/ |website=TV Line |date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=2 July 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182400/https://tvline.com/2020/05/22/supergirl-season-5-finale-alex-costume-tv-questions-answers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Movie appearances ===

* Shortz provided the puzzle clues which [[The Riddler]] ([[Jim Carrey]]) leaves for [[Batman]] ([[Val Kilmer]]) in the 1995 film ''[[Batman Forever]]''.<ref name="Batman ForeverVXCZ">{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112462/trivia |title=IMDB Entry for "Batman Forever" |access-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724183258/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112462/trivia? |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The 2006 documentary ''[[Wordplay (film)|Wordplay]]'' by [[Patrick Creadon]] focuses on Shortz and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Various famous fans of his puzzles such as [[Bill Clinton]], [[Ken Burns]], [[Jon Stewart]], [[Daniel Okrent]], [[Indigo Girls]] and [[Mike Mussina]] appear in the film.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0492506|title=Wordplay}}</ref>
* Shortz has a speaking cameo in three of the Hallmark "[[Hallmark Mystery|Crossword Mysteries]]" films. In one, "A Puzzle to Die For", he played a table tennis player, in honor of his pastime.

== Personal life ==
Shortz resides in [[Pleasantville, New York]], where he works from home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Jade |date=2020-01-17 |title=Will Shortz, A Lifelong Ping Pong and Puzzle Enthusiast |url=http://pleasantvillepress.com/index.php/2020/01/17/will-shortz-a-lifelong-ping-pong-and-puzzle-enthusiast/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Pleasantville Press |language=en-US}}</ref> He is an avid [[table tennis]] player. In May 2011, with Barbadian champion (and his long-time friend) Robert Roberts,<ref>{{cite web |title=Double Happiness |url=http://vimeo.com/23808188 |author=Dewi Cooke |author2=Chitrangada Choudhury |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-date=May 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518074848/http://vimeo.com/23808188 |url-status=live }}</ref> he opened one of the largest table tennis clubs in the Northeast in Pleasantville.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Kathleen |title=Westchester Table Tennis Center Debuts in Pleasantville |url=http://pleasantville.patch.com/articles/weschester-table-tennis-center-debuts-in-pleasantville |access-date=May 10, 2011 |newspaper=AOL Patch}}</ref> In 2012, Shortz set a goal for himself to play table tennis every day for a year, but surpassed his goal, playing for 1000 consecutive days,<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwartz |first=Casey |title =Puzzle Master Will Shortz Played Ping-Pong for 1,000 Days in a Row |url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/07/will-shortz-played-ping-pong-for-1000-days.html |access-date=2015-07-04}}</ref> and then eventually reaching a streak of 10 years in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilbur |first=Martin |title=Shortz's Table Tennis Iron Man Streak Reaches 10 Years |url=https://www.theexaminernews.com/shortzs-table-tennis-iron-man-streak-reaches-10-years/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220233016/https://www.theexaminernews.com/shortzs-table-tennis-iron-man-streak-reaches-10-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In his free time, Shortz also enjoys biking, reading, traveling, and collecting antique puzzle books.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Will Shortz|url=https://www.npr.org/people/2101852/will-shortz|access-date=2020-11-14|website=NPR.org|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112065101/https://www.npr.org/people/2101852/will-shortz|url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortz came out as gay in an interview with ''[[The New Yorker]]'' in February 2023. He married his husband in August 2023.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Will Shortz's Life in Crosswords|department=The New Yorker Interview|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/will-shortzs-life-in-crosswords|access-date=2023-02-15|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=February 15, 2023|last=Maynes-Aminzade|first=Liz|archive-date=February 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216031512/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/will-shortzs-life-in-crosswords|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sunday Puzzle|url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1193621080|date=2023-08-13|access-date=2023-08-28|publisher=[[NPR]]|archive-date=August 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828204443/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1193621080|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/05/1214755852/perspective-getting-to-know-the-puzzlemaster-will-shortz|title=Perspective: Getting to know the Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz|last=Rascoe|first=Ayesha|date=2024-01-05|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=2024-12-26|archive-date=July 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714012510/https://www.npr.org/2024/01/05/1214755852/perspective-getting-to-know-the-puzzlemaster-will-shortz|url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortz, who had a history of untreated [[hypertension]], had a stroke at home on February 4, 2024, and a second larger stroke while being treated at [[Northern Westchester Hospital]]. He received [[intravenous thrombolysis]]. He began rehabilitation at [[Burke Rehabilitation Hospital]], transferred in March to a subacute facility close to his home, and in April had returned home. As of November 2024, he was still in therapy as an outpatient multiple days per week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2024 |title=Crossword Editor Will Shortz Shares How He's Recovering from Stroke |url=https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/crossword-editor-will-shortz-says) |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=[[American Academy of Neurology]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tirrell |first=Meg |date=2024-10-19 |title=Puzzle master Will Shortz pieces together his recovery from a stroke |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/health/crossword-will-shortz-stroke-recovery-wellness/index.html |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2024 |title=Solving the Stroke with Will Shortz |url=https://www.brainandlife.org/podcast/solving-stroke-will-shortz |website=[[American Academy of Neurology]] |access-date=November 29, 2024 |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208051557/https://www.brainandlife.org/podcast/solving-stroke-will-shortz |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilbur |first=Martin |date=2024-11-07 |title=Puzzle Master Shortz Looks to Solve Challenge of Coming Back From Stroke |url=https://www.theexaminernews.com/puzzle-master-shortz-looks-to-solve-challenge-of-coming-back-from-stroke/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=[[The Examiner News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> During Shortz's hospitalization and initial recovery, [[Joel Fagliano]] oversaw editing of the crossword for ''The New York Times'' through December 2024. Shortz, while still in recovery, returned to edit the crossword starting December 30, 2024.<ref name="Return">{{cite web |date=December 29, 2024 |title=Editor's Note: Guess Who's Back, Back Again |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/crosswords/editors-note-guess-whos-back-back-again.html |access-date=December 30, 2024 }}</ref>

==References==
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{{Commons category|Will Shortz}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shortz, Will}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Crossword creators]]
[[Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Indiana]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:NPR personalities]]
[[Category:People from Crawfordsville, Indiana]]
[[Category:People from Pleasantville, New York]]
[[Category:The New York Times editors]]
[[Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni]]