Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella dies

Agent confirms he has passed away

British filmmaker Anthony Minghella, who won a Best Director Oscar in 1996 for The English Patient, has died, his London-based agent confirmed to the Associated Press. He was 54.

Further details are not yet available.

Minghella's other movies included 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley, which made a star out of Jude Law, and 2003's Cold Mountain, which won an Oscar for its Supporting Actress Renée Zellweger.

His most recent movie was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which he recently finished filming in Botswana, reports CNN.

Minghella was married to Hong Kong-born choreographer Carolyn Choa.

Since 2003, he was chairman of the British Film Institute.