Acclaimed Hungarian-born film and television director Peter Medak has passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 88, leaving behind a rich legacy of 27 feature films and extensive work across various iconic television series.
Renowned Director Peter Medak Passes Away
Peter Medak, the Hungarian-born director and actor best known for films including ‘The Changeling,’ ‘The Krays’ and ‘The Ruling Class’ passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 88, reported Variety.
According to the outlet, in a career spanning six decades, Medak directed 27 feature films, moving between psychological horror, black comedy and crime dramas. His 1980 supernatural thriller “The Changeling,” starring George C. Scott, won eight Genie Awards, including best motion picture. He also directed the 1990 British gangster drama “The Krays,” for which he received the Evening Standard Award for best director.
Career Highlights and Contributions
Early Work and Feature Films
Medak made his feature directorial debut with 1968’s ‘Negatives,’ starring Glenda Jackson. His 1972 satire ‘The Ruling Class,’ starring Peter O’ Toole, competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and earned an Oscar nomination for Toole. Other credits include ‘A Day in the Death of Joe Egg,’ ‘Let Him Have It’ and the Gary Oldman-led ‘Romeo Is Bleeding.’
Television and Documentaries
Medak also worked extensively in television, directing episodes of ‘Homicide: Life on the Street,’ ‘The Wire,’ ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘House.’ His 2018 documentary “The Ghost of Peter Sellers” revisited his troubled production of the 1970s comedy “Ghost in the Noonday Sun.” He is survived by his four children, Christopher, Joshua, Karen and Cornela, and five grandchildren.
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