Oscar Winning Director Anthony Minghella Dies
Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella, who helped turn such literary works as The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain into acclaimed movies, died Tuesday of a hemorrhage following surgery. He was only 54.
“Minghella died from complications following surgery last week for cancer of the tonsils and neck,” agent Leslee Dart said.
“The surgery had gone well and they were very optimistic,� she said. “But he developed a hemorrhage last night and they were not able to stop it.�
Minghella is best known for his 1996 World War II drama The English Patient which won nine Academy Awards, including best picture, best director for Minghella and best supporting actress for Juliette Binoche. Based on the celebrated novel by Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje, the movie tells of a burn victim’s tortured recollections of his misdeeds in time of war.
Minghella (pronounced min-GELL’-ah) also was nominated for an Oscar for best screenplay for the movie and for his screenplay for The Talented Mr. Ripley. That film, which starred Matt Damon as a murderous social climber, was based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith. It earned five Oscar nominations.
His 2003 Cold Mountain, based on Charles Frazier’s novel about the U.S. Civil War, earned a best supporting actress Oscar for Renee Zellweger.
Among his other films were Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), and last year’s Oscar-nominated Michael Clayton, on which he was executive producer.
Minghella is survived by his wife; his actor son, Max Minghella; and his daughter, Hannah.
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