Arthur Hiller (1923 - 2016), Love Story director

Arthur Hiller, the director of the movie “Love Story,” died Aug. 17, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 92.

Joel Schumacher (1939–2020), “Batman,” “The Lost Boys” director

Joel Schumacher was the legendary director whose movies included two “Batman” movies along with “The Lost Boys” and St. Elmo’s Fire.”

Kelly Asbury (1960–2020), “Shrek 2” director

Kelly Asbury was the director of the animated films “Shrek 2,” “Gnomeo and Juliet,” "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" and “Ugly Dolls.” He also was a story artist for “Frozen” and “Toy Story.”

Alan Parker (1933–2020), Oscar-nominated director of “Midnight Express,” “Mississippi Burning”

Alan Parker was a British film director known for movies including “Midnight Express,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “Bugsy Malone.”

Tony Tanner (1932–2020), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” director

Tony Tanner was a British actor and director best known for choreographing and directing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in its 1982 Broadway debut.

Michael Apted (1941–2021), "Coal Miner's Daughter" director

Michael Apted was a prolific British director known for "Coal Miner's Daughter" and the "Up" documentary series.

Douglas Turner Ward (1930–2021), pioneer of Black theater

Douglas Turner Ward was an actor, playwright, and director who co-founded New York’s Negro Ensemble Company.

Women Have Always Directed Movies

Women have been a part of moviemaking since the earliest days of cinema's beginnings - on both sides of the camera. From the first silent films to today's Oscar nominees, many great movies have been directed by women. Join us as we celebrate the legacies of female filmmakers who have died but live on in their great work.

Black Film Directors' Great Movies

Black directors have been making acclaimed and popular movies for more than a hundred years, dating back to the early days of silent films. Though the Hollywood establishment hasn't always recognized them, their art has touched and entertained millions of people for generations. Join us as we celebrate the legacies of Black filmmakers who have died but live on in their great work.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

Peter Bogdanovich (1939–2022), acclaimed film director

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

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.”

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.”

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

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

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

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.”    

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”  

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.”

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.”

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.”

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. 

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." 

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.”

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.” 

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.” 

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.

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.” 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .