Arthur Hiller, the director of classic films like "Love Story," "The Out-of-Towners" and "The In-Laws," has died. He was 92.
The Canadian-born director died on Wednesday in Los Angeles of natural causes, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced, reported Variety.
Hiller served as the Academy president between 1993 and 1997 and of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) from 1989-93.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved friend Arthur Hiller. I was a member of the Board during his presidency and fortunate enough to witness firsthand his dedication to the Academy and his lifelong passion for visual storytelling," Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement.
The DGA also released a statement post his demise.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of Arthur's passing. As a tireless crusader in the fight for creative rights and a passionate film preservation advocate, Arthur Hiller's impact on the fabric of our industry will be felt for generations to come," said DGA president Paris Barclay.
Hiller was born in Edmonton on November 22, 1923. His parents, Polish immigrants Harry and Rose, started an amateur Yiddish theater in the Canadian city, and Hiller was appearing in small roles by age 11.
After high school, Hiller spent three years in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He then attended the University of Toronto and earned a master's in psychology.
Hiller began his career working for Canadian television before moving to Los Angeles to work on NBC series like "Gunsmoke," "Naked City" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."
In 1957, he directed his first feature film "The Careless Years."
The filmmaker went on to helm more than 30 features in all manner of genres, from intense dramas to light comedies to musicals, with "Love Story" being his one of the most famous ventures.
"Love Story," based on the bestseller by Erich Segal, was an enormous box office hit in 1970. Starring Ryan O'Neal as a college kid from a wealthy family and Ali MacGraw as a wisecracking working-class girl, the film was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture.
He directed a number of high-profile films in the '60s, including "The Wheeler Dealers," with James Garner and Lee Remick and, in 1964, well-received big-budget "The Americanization of Emily," with Garner and Julie Andrews.
In 1976 came the biopic "W.C. Fields and Me," starring Rod Steiger, and the popular comedy "Silver Streak," with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.
Also successful was his 1979 action-comedy "The In-Laws," with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin.
Hiller went on to helm films like "Author! Author!" starring Al Pacino, "The Lonely Guy" with Steve Martin, "The Babe" starring John Goodman as Yankees slugger Babe Ruth.
His final credit as a director was 2006 film "Pucked" starring Jon Bon Jovi.
A member of the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress from 1989-2005, Hiller was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada in 2007.
He was involved with charitable organizations such as the Motion Picture and Television Fund, Los Angeles public TV station KCET, Amnesty International, the Deaf Arts Council, the Anti-Defamation League and Humanitas.
The filmmaker was the 2002 recipient of the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his lifetime of charitable efforts.
Hiller is survived by children Erica and Henryk and five grandchildren.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
