Alan Parker
The famous British film director, Alan Parker known for many films such as Midnight Express, The Commitments, Mississippi Burning, Evita, Bugsy Malone, Fame passed away of a lengthy illness on July 31 at age 76. He will be remembered as one of the most successful and talented filmmakers of our time.
Sir Alan William Parker CBE was born on February 14, 1944 in Matlock, UK.
Early in his career in his teens, he was a copywriter and director of television advertisements. He later went on to become a highly successful film director in Hollywood and the world; and brought his most regarded films to the silver screen such as Midnight Express, The Commitments, Evita, Fame, Bugsy Malone, Birdy starring Nicolas Cage and more. He was truly one of the few directors to understand ‘musicals’ on-screen with the film, ‘Evita’ starring Madonna; that was also a Broadway hit.
He was married twice. His first wife was Annie Inglis who he divorced in 1992. He later married film producer Lisa Moran-Parker (known for her work on The Life of David Gale and Evita with her now-late husband Alan Parker). He’s also written several books; including The Sucker’s Kiss, The Making of Evita, Puddles In The Lane, Hares in the Gate: Un Cartoon de. He received a CBE in 1995 and knighthood in 2002.
His stellar films won 19 BAFTA awards, 10 Golden Globes, and 10 Oscars. He was a passionate supporter of the UK industry and a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain. He was the founding Chairman of the UK Film Council in 2000 for five years and prior to that he was Chairman of the BFI.
He is survived by his wife Lisa Moran-Parker, five children and seven grandchildren. RIP.
BAFTA, celebrities such as Ben Stiller and several others posted their condolences on Twitter:
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of BAFTA Fellow Alan Parker. As BAFTA-winning filmmaker, he brought us joy with Bugsy Malone, The Commitments, Midnight Express and many more. pic.twitter.com/fVOcXARgKM
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) July 31, 2020
So sad to hear of Alan Parker’s passing. What a great director who made what I consider “real” movies. He inspired so many filmmakers: ‘Fame', 'Midnight Express,' 'Mississippi Burning'…Watch his films – they are some of the best of the 70s and 80s. #RIP https://t.co/Dchg3UPydh
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) July 31, 2020
R.I.P. Alan Parker (1944-2020)
: On the set of MISSISSIPPI BURNING with Gene Hackman. pic.twitter.com/DcWKpVlic3
— Film at Lincoln Center (@FilmLinc) July 31, 2020
People talk about Jack Charlton's role in heralding some kind of new Ireland in the 1990s, but I think Alan Parker played a similar role. The Commitments presented a non-apologetic, truthful and very funny Dublin to the world in a way that had never really been done before. RIP. pic.twitter.com/b7FmHn0V77
— John Connolly (@jkconnolly) July 31, 2020
