L.A. Confidential director Curtis Hanson dies, aged 71
Curtis Hanson, the director behind films including 8 Mile, Wonder Boys and the double Oscar-winning L.A. Confidential, has died. Hanson was found dead at his California home when paramedics responded to an emergency call on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed.
Hanson, who began his career as a writer and director with an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's The Dulwich Horror in 1970, had been retired in recent years, quitting his last project Chasing Mavericks in 2012 due to ill health. Some reports had suggested that the director was suffering from Alzheimer's, although this was never confirmed by Hanson or those close to him, with police saying yesterday only that Hanson had died of 'natural causes'.
Hanson's career saw him work with many great actors and tributes have been pouring in on social media from many of the actors he knew and worked with, including the likes of Kevin Bacon, James Woods and Russell Crowe, with rapper Eminem commenting that Hanson “basically made me into an actor for 8 Mile. I'm lucky I got to know him.”
Our thoughts and sympathies go out Hanson's family and friends.
So sad to hear about Curtis Hanson. great director. great man. Riding that river with him was one of the greatest gigs of my life
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) 21 September 2016
This saddens me deeply. I worked with Curtis on #TooBigToFail. Great director and the nicest man. RIP, dear friend. https://t.co/UMo04Vbaeu
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) 21 September 2016
Rest in peace Curtis Hanson. What a great loss. Your legacy will live forever. LA Confidential is the masterpiece of masterpieces.
— James Wan (@creepypuppet) 21 September 2016
It was an honor to make "Bad Influence" with Curtis Hanson. So smart, so kind and a great storyteller. I will miss him.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) 21 September 2016
Obviously distracted & upset...RIP to Curtis Hanson... this correction because he would have asked for another take..."in technicolor sir"
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) 21 September 2016
