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Director Anthony Minghella dead at 54
Tuesday, March 18, 2008Acclaimed English director, screenwriter and playwright Anthony Minghella has died at the age of 54. His agent, Judy Daish, confirmed his passing in London on Tuesday morning. Variety reports that he suffered a brain hemorrhage this morning at Charing Cross Hospital in London, a complication from a routine neck operation but his representatives have yet to officially release any other details. Minghella is best-known for the 1996 film "The English Patient", based on the award-winning novel by Michael Ondaatje. The World War II drama went on to garner nine Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actress nod for Juliette Binoche as well as awards for Best Picture and Best Director (awarded to Minghella himself). He helmed a number of other successful films including "Cold Mountain", "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (for which he received another Academy Award nomination, this time for his adapted screenplay), and "Truly, Madly, Deeply" as well as executive producing "Iris", "Catch a Fire", "The Quiet American" and the recent award winner, "Michael Clayton." His latest project was an adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's successful "The No. 1 Ladies' Dectective Agency" series. The film is due to air on the BBC later this week and is intended as a pilot for a 13-part series commissioned by HBO starring Jill Scott as the popular detective, Precious Ramotswe. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in 2001 and in 2005, he turned to the opera stage, directing a critically acclaimed production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly with the English National Opera. The project was so successful it was later staged as the season opening production at New York's Metropolitan Opera. Minghella, who acted as Chairman of the Board of Governors at the British Film Institute for the past four years, is survived by his wife, choreographer Carolyn Choa, and two children as well as his siblings in the entertainment industry, Dominic and Edana. Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images. |
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