(Los Angeles) German director Wolfgang Petersen, best known for his films Troy and The never-ending story and for directing world stars such as Clint Eastwood, George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, died of pancreatic cancer at 81.
Posted at 8:50 p.m.
The one who had achieved success in 1983 with two Oscar nominations for Das Boota thriller whose plot takes place aboard a submarine during World War II, died at his home in Los Angeles in the arms of his wife, said a spokesperson.
The following year his first film in English was released, The never-ending storyadaptation of a children’s literature success telling the adventures of a young boy who steals a novel from a bookstore, before being propelled into the story of the book.
He then directed action films and disaster films, including In the line of sightwith Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich, and Alertwhich relates the fight of the American authorities against a very virulent virus, with Dustin Hoffman.
Actress Glenn Close, who starred alongside Harrison Ford in Air Force Onetold AFP in a statement that having been led by Wolfgang Petersen “remains a special memory”.
“Even though the script was thrilling and incredibly intense, I remember lots of laughs, especially during the scenes around the huge table in the ‘War Room,'” she said.
“My memory is that of a man full of ‘joie de vivre’ (in French in the press release, editor’s note) who did what he liked to do the most,” said the actress again.