Director John Hughes has died. (1950 - 2009)

Source: http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktx ... 2420.story

Quote:

NEW YORK - The publicist for director John Hughes reports the blockbuster 1980s filmmaker has passed away.

Spokeswoman Michelle Bega told reporters Thursday afternoon Hughes died after suffering a heart attack during a morning walk in New York City. Hughes was reportedly in Manhattan to visit family.

Hughes directed moves in the 1980s and 1990s that grew to become cult classics, including "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club." As a director, he frequently recruited many of the same actors to appear throughout his movies.

In 1990, Hughes directed "Home Alone" starring Macaulay Culkin. To this day, "Home Alone" is the top-grossing live-action American comedy of all time.

Hughes passed away at 59 years old and is survived by two sons.

I didn't know he did Home Alone. I thought I hadn't seen any of his movies, because I kept hearing names like the Breakfast Club thrown around. I didn't see films like those, but who didn't see Home Alone? We could use some good films like that these days.

Tragic that he died so young and so suddenly. My thoughts are with his family. I haven't seen most of his films, but enjoyed Breakfast Club as an in-flight movie (despite being fairly standard school story fare, it succeeds in mocking stereotypes and underscoring the need to look beneath the surface, rather than rely on superficial impressions). Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and Uncle Buck follow the same general trend as comedy films with a heart.

I've just checked Wiki and it turns out that his writing credits were even more extensive, including teen classics like Pretty in Pink and the first Beethoven film - throwbacks, perhaps, to a more innocent era, but films my generation grew up with. He'll be missed.