Director Sir Alan Parker who made Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express and Evita has died at the age of 76
Sir Alan Parker, who directed films including Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express and Evita, has died at the age of 76, a spokeswoman has said.
Tributes flooded in from across the movie industry, with fellow director David Puttnam saying: ‘Alan was my oldest and closest friend, I was always in awe of his talent. My life and those of many others who loved and respected him will never be the same again.’
Director Nick Murphy described Sir Alan as a ‘huge talent’ in a tweet, writing: ‘Alan Parker made so many wonderful movies. Just wonderful. A huge talent. As I’m sure you know. RIP Alan Parker.’
Born in Islington, north London in 1962, Sir Alan began his career with the advertising agency Collett Dickenson Pearce as a copywriter, where he worked alongside David Puttnam, Charles Saatchi, and Alan Marshall, among others.
He then began writing screenplays and S.W.A.L.K. (‘sealed with a loving kiss’), was produced by David Puttnam, directed by Waris Hussein, and released as Melody in 1970.
Film director Sir Alan Parker, pictured, has died at the age of 76, a spokeswoman has said
He directed productions including Bugsy Malone, pictured above
Sir Alan then wrote and directed two short films and a television play set in wartime London before his first major success came with The Evacuees in 1975 – a television play written by Jack Rosenthal about the experiences of two Jewish boys evacuated from London during the Blitz.
His work won him the first of 19 BAFTA awards – this one for Best Director.
More follows.