Chicago-based filmmaker, John Hughes died suddenly today of a heart attack while taking a morning walk while visiting family members in Manhattan. He was only 59 years-old.
Hughes was best known for his depiction of "the joys and heartbreak of high school in the '80s" with films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He "treated teens with respect, reaching beyond the traditional stereotypes to create characters that spoke to a generation." In the process, he nurtured the careers of young actors like Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy and helped spawn what is known as 'The Brat Pack', a nickname given to a group of young actors / actresses of the 80's who frequently appeared together in these "teen-oriented coming-of-age" films.
To avoid being typecast as a 'teen comedy filmmaker', Hughes branched out in the late 80's with several collaborations with the late comic performer John Candy. Candy appeared in several Hughes films including National Lampoon's Vacation, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck.
Though most associated with the 1980's, the 1990's brought Hughes his biggest box-office hits with the Home Alone franchise. In the last decade, Hughes stepped back from the legacy he created to enjoy time with his family, maintain a functioning farm in northern Illinois and support independent arts.
Hughes is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, his two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren.
A full filmography of films written, directed, and produced by John Hughes can be found here
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