It was announced on Sunday that Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream director Wes Craven has died after a battle with brain cancer. His name is synonymous with horror classics, and his films found great success both financially and with the franchises they spawned.
Music of the Heartearned star Meryl Streep an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in 1999, and he entered another very different genre with psychological thriller, Red Eye.
His most recent project as writer/director was My Soul To Take in 2010, but he’s served as an executive producer on remakes of many of his films, including The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left, and the popular new Scream TV series which is airing on MTV.
The following statement was released in regards to the sad passing of this horror legend:
It is with deep sadness we inform you that Wes Craven passed away at 1PM on Sunday, August 30 after battling brain cancer. He was 76 years old. Craven was surrounded by love, in the presence of his family at his Los Angeles home.
Craven is survived by his wife, producer and former Disney Studios VP Iya Labunka, older sister Carol Buhrow, son Jonathan Craven with wife Rachel Craven and their two sons Miles and Max; daughter Jessica Craven with husband Mike Wodkowski and their daughter Myra-Jean Wodkowski; and Wes’ stepdaughter Nina Tarnawksy. Craven was predeceased by his parents Paul Eugene Craven, a machinist who passed away when Wes was 5 years old, his mother Caroline, a bookkeeper; and his older brother Paul James Crave
One of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Craven was also a nature lover and committed bird conservationist, serving as a long-time member of the Audubon California Board of Directors. He was born in Cleveland, OH on August 2nd, 1939. Craven was a longtime summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard where he moved permanently 3 years ago before returning to Los Angeles for work and health reasons.
In addition Craven continued to be active as a mentor and producer to newer filmmakers, and is an Executive Producer of the upcoming feature film “The Girl in the Photographs” which will premiere at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival.
