American director Joel Schumacher died in New York City on Monday morning after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.
His publicists at ID PR confirmed the news.
Schumacher, who directed some two dozen films during his career, was known for his body of work including Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, St. Elmo’s Fire, A Time to Kill and Falling Down.
After Tim Burton exited Warner Bros.’ Batman franchise after two enormously successful films, Schumacher took over, directing Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman.
The film became a global hit, grossing more than $300 million worldwide, however, was criticised for its graphic and violent nature.
Joel Schumacher (centre) died aged 80 following a long battle with cancer (Image: Getty Images)
His second film in the franchise was 1997’s Batman and Robin with George Clooney as Batman and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the villain.
Following the release of the Batman flicks, the New York native turned his attention to indie moves, directing lower-budget fare film 8mm with Nicolas Cage, and Flawless with Robert De Niro.
Elsewhere in his career, Schumacher directed a film adaptation of the musical The Phantom of the Opera in 2004 starring Scottish actor Gerard Butler.
The movie was met with decisive feelings, but it fast became a hit with audiences and earned $154.6 million worldwide.
Striking gold with the film, Phantom was nominated for three Academy Awards, as well as three Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Most recently, Schumacher directed a couple of episodes of Netflix hit House of Cards in 2013, produced by his good friend David Fincher.
Schumacher directed St. Elmos Fire, The Lost Boys, and several movies within the Batman film series during his career (Image: Getty Images)
His last two films he worked on were both released in 2001, Trespass starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman as a married couple taken hostage by extortionists, and short flick Man in the Mirror.
Schumacher started out in showbiz as a costume designer, earning credits on 1972’s Play It as It Lays, Herbert Ross’ The Last of Sheila (1973), Paul Mazursky’s Blume in Love (1973), and Woody Allen’s Sleeper.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
