Prolific horror filmmaker Wes Craven, who directed the slasher classic A Nightmare on Elm Street , died on Sunday August 30 afternoon, his family said in a statement. He was 76.Craven, who was also behind the 1990’s horror hit Scream died surrounded by his loved ones at his Los Angeles home after suffering from brain cancer, the family said.
“It is with deep sadness we inform you that Wes Craven passed away,” the family said. “Our hearts are broken.”
Craven suffered from ailing health over the past three years, but continued to work on projects which included a new film, The Girl in the Photographs , which is set to premiere at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival on September 2015.
Here are glimpses of some of his popular works:
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Red Eye (2005)
Many film personalities, took to Twitter to express their condolences:
Shedding tears now. A giant has left us. #wescraven #always #liveon pic.twitter.com/t3ituQLgV1
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) August 31, 2015
Today the world lost a great man, my friend and mentor, Wes Craven. My heart goes out to his family. x
— Courteney Cox (@CourteneyCox) August 31, 2015
goodbye wes craven. nightmare on elm street still remains the scariest film i’ve ever seen..
— sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) August 31, 2015
My friend Wes has left us too soon. He was truly an Old School director. I had a great time directing him. I’m… http://t.co/NCeEflbdhO
— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) August 31, 2015
Devastated to hear the news. Wes was a great friend, fine director and good man. Giant loss. Much too soon. http://t.co/3XnIn8UNIF
— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) August 31, 2015
Works of Craven will always remain an important part of the film industry.
(With inputs from Reuters)