Leonard Maltin is perhaps best known for his annual paperback reference, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, which was first published in 1969. It was joined by a companion volume, Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide, in 2005. Since 1982 he has appeared on television's “Entertainment Tonight,” and for three years co-hosted the weekly movie review show “Hot Ticket.” He currently hosts Secret’s Out on ReelzChannel and introduces movies on DirecTV Pay Per View.

He teaches at the University of Southern California, and was a member of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in New York City. His other books include Leonard Maltin's Family Film Guide, Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia, The Great American Broadcast, The Great Movie Comedians, The Disney Films, Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, The Art of the Cinematographer, Selected Short Subjects, and (as co-author) The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The London Times, Premiere, Smithsonian, TV Guide, Esquire, The Village Voice, Modern Maturity, Satellite Direct, and Disney Magazine.

For six years he was film critic for Playboy magazine. He has served as Guest Curator at the Museum of Modern Art, and was President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in 1995 and 1996. In 1997 he was named to the National Film Preservation Board, and in 2006 was named by the Librarian of Congress to sit on the Board of Directors for the National Film Preservation Foundation. He is also active in the field of DVDs, hosting and co-producing the popular Walt Disney Treasures series. Perhaps the greatest indication of his fame was his appearance in a now-classic episode of the animated series “South Park.” (Or perhaps it was Carmela consulting his Movie Guide on an episode of The Sopranos.) He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles. He publishes a quarterly newsletter for old-movie buffs, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy, and maintains a website, www.leonardmaltin.com.