Directors

Souleymane Cissé (1940–2025), acclaimed Malian filmmaker

Souleymane Cissé was a Malian filmmaker whose work, especially 1987’s “Yeelen,” has been cited as among the greatest-ever examples of African cinema.

Charles Shyer (1941–2024), Father of the Bride writer-director

Charles Shyer was a filmmaker known for such movies as “Private Benjamin,” which he co-wrote and co-produced, and “Father of the Bride,” which he co-wrote and directed.

Jeff Baena (1977–2025), The Little Hours filmmaker

Jeff Baena was a screenwriter and director known for such movies as “I Heart Huckabees” and “The Little Hours,” as well as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza.

Jim Abrahams (1944–2024), Airplane! filmmaker

Jim Abrahams was part of the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (ZAZ) filmmaking team, known for such comedies as “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun.”  

Tony Mordente (1935–2024), original West Side Story cast member

Tony Mordente was an actor in the original cast of “West Side Story,” the ex-husband of Broadway star , and a longtime television director.

Morgan Spurlock (1970–2024), Super Size Me filmmaker

Morgan Spurlock was a documentary filmmaker best known for his 2004 movie “Super Size Me,” for which he ate nothing but McDonald’s items for 30 days.

Roger Corman (1926–2024), “King of the B’s” filmmaker

Roger Corman was “The B-Movie King,” directing and producing hundreds of cult classics including “The Wild Angels” and “Rock n’ Roll High School.”

Joe Camp (1939–2024), Benji filmmaker 

Joe Camp was the creator, screenwriter, and director behind the beloved “Benji” movie franchise.

Edward Bond (1934–2024), socially-conscious playwright and director

Edward Bond was a playwright and theater director whose often socially conscious work included “Saved,” “Narrow Road to the Deep North,” “Lear,” and “The Sea.” 

Mickey Gilbert (1936–2024), Robert Redford’s stunt double 

Mickey Gilbert was a veteran stuntman who performed daring feats as the stand-in for such actors as Robert Redford and .

Rod Holcomb (1943–2024), TV director on ER, Lost 

Rod Holcomb was a TV director and producer who helmed the pilot and series finale of “ER,” along with dozens of other TV episodes.

Norman Jewison (1926–2024), In the Heat of the Night director

Norman Jewison was the acclaimed director of "In the Heat of the Night," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "The Hurricane," known for confronting his audiences with racism and other social issues during a career spanning more than 50 years.

Conrad Palmisano (1948–2024), Rambo: First Blood stunt coordinator 

Conrad Palmisano was a stunt performer and coordinator on such movies as “Rambo: First Blood,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” the sequels to “Rush Hour,” and many more.

Charles Officer (1975–2023), award-winning Canadian filmmaker

Charles Officer was an award-winning Canadian writer, documentarian, and filmmaker who was nominated for 10 Genie Awards for his 2008 film, “Nurse.Fighter.Boy,” and who directed episodes of “The Porter,” an historical drama series.

Ross McDonnell (1979–2023), cinematographer known for The First Wave

Ross McDonnell was a photographer, cinematographer, and director who won Emmy Awards for his work on the documentaries “The First Wave” and “The Trade.” He went missing in New York in November 2023.

Elliot Silverstein (1927–2023), Cat Ballou director 

Elliot Silverstein was a filmmaker who directed such movies as “Cat Ballou,” as well as episodes of “The Twilight Zone” and other TV shows.

Suzanne Shepherd (1934–2023), actress from GoodFellas, the Sopranos

Suzanne Shepherd was an actress, teacher, and stage director who appeared in “The Sopranos,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Requiem for a Dream,” and is perhaps best known for playing Karen’s mother in the gangster classic, “GoodFellas.” 

Shirley Jo Finney (1949–2023), Wilma star and theatre director

Shirley Jo Finney was an actress who starred in the TV movie “Wilma” and worked widely in regional theatre as a director.

Anthony Hickox (1959–2023), director of Hellraiser III and Waxwork

Anthony Hickox was a film director known for his work on horror franchises such as “Waxwork,” “Hellraiser,” and “Warlock.” 

Jeff Burr (1963–2023), director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III 

Jeff Burr was a filmmaker who worked on popular horror franchises like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Puppet Master,” and “Pumpkinhead.” 

Terence Davies (1945–2023), British filmmaker and author

Terence Davies was a British filmmaker and author who was known for semi-autobiographical works like “Distant Voices, Still Lives,” as well as such adaptations as “The House of Mirth” and “The Deep Blue Sea.”

William Friedkin (1935–2023), award-winning director of The Exorcist

William Friedkin was an award-winning director and screenwriter who was best known for "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection." 

Kenneth Anger (1927–2023), experimental filmmaker and author

Kenneth Anger was an author and filmmaker whose experimental short films and books recounting salacious Hollywood rumors proved both infamous and influential. 

Bert I. Gordon (1922–2023), director of The Amazing Colossal Man

Bert I. Gordon was a director of drive-in B movie classics of the 1950s through 1970s, including “The Amazing Colossal Man.”

Ricou Browning (1930–2023), Creature from the Black Lagoon’s Gill-man

Ricou Browning was an actor, stuntman, screenwriter, and director who played the Gill-man in the classic horror film “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

Hugh Hudson (1936–2023), Chariots of Fire director

Hugh Hudson was an English filmmaker whose films included “Chariots of Fire” and “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.”

Albert Pyun (1953–2022), “The Sword and the Sorcerer” director  

Albert Pyun  was a director known for his low budget direct to video cult films including “The Sword and the Sorcerer” and “Cyborg.”  

Douglas McGrath (1958–2022), Oscar-nominated actor and filmmaker

Douglas McGrath was an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker who directed movies including the 1996 adaptation of “Emma.”

Jean-Luc Godard (1930–2022), director and pioneer of the French New Wave film movement

Jean-Luc Godard was a French director who pioneered post-war French cinema by establishing the French New Wave film movement.

Gerald Potterton (1931–2022), “Heavy Metal” director 

Gerald Potterton was a director and animator best known for directing the 1981 animated cult classic film “Heavy Metal.”

Wolfgang Petersen (1941–2022), director of “Das Boot,” “The NeverEnding Story”

Wolfgang Petersen was the Oscar-nominated director of movies including “Das Boot,” “Air Force One,” and “The NeverEnding Story.”

Tony Dow (1945–2022), “Leave It to Beaver” star 

Tony Dow was beloved by generations for his role as older brother Wally Cleaver on the classic family sitcom “Leave It to Beaver.”    

Bob Rafelson (1933–2022), “Five Easy Pieces” director and Monkees co-creator

Bob Rafelson was a filmmaker known for movies including “Five Easy Pieces” and “The King of Marvin Gardens,” as well as for co-creating the Monkees.

Peter Brook (1925–2022), Tony Award-winning theater and film director

Peter Brook was a British theater and film director known for his innovative work.

Charles Siebert (1938–2022), “Trapper John, M.D.” star

Charles Siebert was an actor and director who starred as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on “Trapper John, M.D.”

Jacques Perrin (1941–2022), star of “Cinema Paradiso”

Jacques Perrin was a French actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film “Cinema Paradiso.”

Ivan Reitman (1946–2022), director of “Ghostbusters”

Ivan Reitman was a filmmaker who directed movies including “Ghostbusters” and “Stripes.”

Douglas Trumbull (1942–2022), visual effects pioneer on “2001,” “Blade Runner”

Douglas Trumbull was a visual effects legend and filmmaker who created groundbreaking effects for films including “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Blade Runner.”

Dwayne Hickman (1934–2022), “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” star

Dwayne Hickman was an actor who starred in the title role of the classic sitcom “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.”

Peter Bogdanovich (1939–2022), acclaimed film director

Peter Bogdanovich was an iconic film director known for “The Last Picture Show,” “Paper Moon,” and “Mask.” 

Lina Wertmüller (1928–2021), first woman nominated for a Best Director Oscar

Lina Wertm üller was an Italian filmmaker and the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for directing.

Chris Ayres (1965–2021), “Dragon Ball” voice actor

Chris Ayres was a voice actor, director, and scriptwriter known for his performance as Frieza in the “Dragon Ball” anime series.

Eiichi Yamamoto (1940–2021), anime pioneer known for “Belladonna of Sadness”

Eiichi Yamamoto was a Japanese amine pioneer who directed and co-wrote classics of the genre including "Belladonna of Sadness," “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion.”

Melvin Van Peebles (1932–2021), influential actor and filmmaker

Melvin Van Peebles was an actor and filmmaker best known for his influential 1971 film, “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.”

Pat Hitchcock (1928–2021), actor and daughter of Alfred Hitchcock

Pat Hitchcock was the daughter of the legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock and an actor who appeared in several of her father's films.

Robert Downey Sr. (1936–2021), filmmaker and actor

Robert Downey Sr. was a filmmaker and actor best known for his 1969 film “Putney Swope.” He was also the father of Robert Downey Jr.

Richard Donner (1930–2021), director of “Superman,” “The Goonies”

Richard Donner was a filmmaker who directed popular movies including “Superman,” “The Goonies,” and the “Lethal Weapon” series.

Buddy Van Horn (1928–2021), Clint Eastwood’s longtime stunt double

Buddy Van Horn was Clint Eastwood’s stunt double and the stunt coordinator for Eastwood’s Malpaso Productions.

Monte Hellman (1929–2021), “Two-Lane Blacktop” director

Monte Hellman was a director whose cult classic films include “Two-Lane Blacktop.”