Filmmaker Curtis Hanson, best known for helming ’90s crime thriller “L.A Confidential“, has passed away at the age of 71.
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Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Liliana Preciado said Hanson died of natural causes, CNN reported.
Hanson had retired from directing in recent years, and had reportedly been suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Curtis Lee Hanson was born on March 24, 1945, in Reno, Nev., but grew up in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. The movie became a major success, showcasing the talents of the director and Rebecca De Mornay in the role of her life.
He also has on his list of credits Losin’ It (1983), starring Tom Cruise; The River Wild (1994), starring Meryl Streep; Wonder Boys (2000), starring Michael Douglas; and In Her Shoes (2005), a comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette. “He basically made me into an actor for ‘8 Mile.’ I’m lucky I got to know him”, said Eminem in a statement to Billboard. Despite being largely overshadowed by Titanic during awards season, the film ultimately won two Oscars: Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay for Hanson and Brian Helgeland.
Director Curtis Hanson arrives for the 2007 world premiere of Lucky You, starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall, during the Tribeca Film Festival in NY. Hanson brought out the best in the hip-hop superstar, with the power of Eminem’s performance taking some critics by surprise.
RIP to Curtis Hanson.’, he said.
Hanson wrote and directed L.A. Confidential (1997), which was up for Best Picture and also earned him a directing nom and won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
According to a Los Angeles Times article from 2012, Hanson was unable to complete what would be his last directorial assignment due to a serious illness, that year’s surfing drama Chasing Mavericks.
Crowe addressed Hanson directly on Twitter Tuesday night, saying “Thank you for believing in me”.
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A onetime film journalist, Hanson began his Hollywood career as a screenwriter on a 1970 low-budget horror movie and made his debut as a director on “Sweet Kill”, a 1972 thriller that he wrote.
