British film director and writer Anthony Minghella, CBE, has died at the age of 54, his agent has said. Minghella, had been chairman of the British Film Institute and directed numerous films such as Truly, Madly, Deeply and Cold Mountain.
Mr Minghella, born to Italian parents on the Isle of White, recently completed work on, The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, due to be screened this Easter. This is an adaptation of the Alexander McCall Smith novel that was filmed in Botswana and a full series is due to be shown in the UK and US next year.Sadly one of our greatest film directors and writers passed away before he had the chance to build an even bigger dynasty.
"He had undergone an operation for cancer of the tonsils and neck last week and the operation seemed to have gone well. But he suffered a fatal haemorrhage at 5am today, his agent Leslee Dart said. "The surgery had gone well and they were very optimistic," she said. "But he developed a haemorrhage last night and they were not able to stop it."
FACTS and TRIBUTES
Anthony Minghella made his world debut in 6 January 1954. Born to Edward and Gloria on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom . He was given a CBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Anthony Minghella won an Oscar in 1997 for directing The English Patient. It took Minghella three years to finish writing the script for this and in 1999 was Oscar-nominated for writing the screenplay for The Talented Mr Ripley.
He has also directed A 90-minute pilot, directed by Minghella and co-written with Richard Curtis, is due to be broadcast on BBC One.
Harvey Weinstein, who produced "Cold Mountain," "Ripley" and "Patient" with Miramax, said he was shocked and heartbroken."He was my mentor, my partner and, most of all, my brother. The grace, joy and tenderness he brought to his films were symbolic of his life and the many people he touched," Weinstein said. "There are many personal and professional moments we have shared together and I will treasure them for the rest of my life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family at this difficult moment."
In 2003, he became the Chairman of the British Film Institute. He handed over the post last month.
"He had undergone an operation for cancer of the tonsils and neck last week and the operation seemed to have gone well. But he suffered a fatal haemorrhage at 5am today, his agent Leslee Dart said. "The surgery had gone well and they were very optimistic," she said. "But he developed a haemorrhage last night and they were not able to stop it."
FACTS and TRIBUTES
Anthony Minghella made his world debut in 6 January 1954. Born to Edward and Gloria on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom . He was given a CBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Anthony Minghella won an Oscar in 1997 for directing The English Patient. It took Minghella three years to finish writing the script for this and in 1999 was Oscar-nominated for writing the screenplay for The Talented Mr Ripley.
He has also directed A 90-minute pilot, directed by Minghella and co-written with Richard Curtis, is due to be broadcast on BBC One.
He attended University of Hull, where he met his wife choreographer Carolyn Choa (who, choreographed the dance scenes in The English Patient). He also lectured in drama at Hull to until 1981
In 1986 while working as a well known TV writer and playwright, he won the Best New Play Award in 1986 for Made In Bangkok
In 1986 while working as a well known TV writer and playwright, he won the Best New Play Award in 1986 for Made In Bangkok
His directorial debut was in 1991 with Truly, Madly, Deeply which one numerous accolades
He has since written and directed film adaptations of Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient and Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley.
Gwyneth Paltrow, said Minghella was "a wonderful man" who was "so interested in art and making the world better for art".
He directed 2003's Cold Mountain, starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger, who won the best supporting actress Oscar for the film.
Jude Law, who worked with Minghella on three films, said he was "deeply
shocked and saddened" at the news.
The actor described him as "a brilliantly talented writer and director" and "a sweet, warm, bright and funny man".
Gwyneth Paltrow, said Minghella was "a wonderful man" who was "so interested in art and making the world better for art".
He directed 2003's Cold Mountain, starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger, who won the best supporting actress Oscar for the film.
Jude Law, who worked with Minghella on three films, said he was "deeply
shocked and saddened" at the news.The actor described him as "a brilliantly talented writer and director" and "a sweet, warm, bright and funny man".
Harvey Weinstein, who produced "Cold Mountain," "Ripley" and "Patient" with Miramax, said he was shocked and heartbroken."He was my mentor, my partner and, most of all, my brother. The grace, joy and tenderness he brought to his films were symbolic of his life and the many people he touched," Weinstein said. "There are many personal and professional moments we have shared together and I will treasure them for the rest of my life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family at this difficult moment."
In 2003, he became the Chairman of the British Film Institute. He handed over the post last month.
2005, saw Minghella direct his first opera, an English National Opera production of Madama Butterfly, at the company's Coliseum home, in London.
Minghella directed the Labour Party broadcast before the 2005 General Election, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: "He was one of Britain's greatest creative talents, one of our finest screen writers and directors, a great champion of the British film industry and expert on literature and opera."
Film producer and friend Lord Puttnam said the industry would be "very shocked" to lose 
their "very well-loved" colleague.
"He started as a writer, he was not a stylist as a director," he said. "He saw himself as a storyteller and his films were very well told, beautifully made and beautifully acted."
their "very well-loved" colleague."He started as a writer, he was not a stylist as a director," he said. "He saw himself as a storyteller and his films were very well told, beautifully made and beautifully acted."
Minghella's work is incomplete; he died while working on his segment of "New York, I Love You," a project announced during the Festival de Cannes in 2007.
Minghella had also written and was to direct a segment for the anthology of movies joining several love stories set in New York.
Minghella leaves behind hi wife Carolyn and his grown up children Max and Hannah.
Link to tributes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7303411.stm
Video obituary link here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7302841.stm
Minghella had also written and was to direct a segment for the anthology of movies joining several love stories set in New York.
Minghella leaves behind hi wife Carolyn and his grown up children Max and Hannah.
Link to tributes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7303411.stm
Video obituary link here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7302841.stm
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