(Toronto) John Zaritsky, the Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, has died at the age of 79.
Posted at 7:11 p.m.
Updated at 8:01 p.m.
The Canadian filmmaker died of heart failure on March 30 in Vancouver, according to his family.
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Mr. Zaritsky has had a career spanning more than 40 years and has often addressed controversial topics, including disease, drugs and assisted suicide, while giving voice to survivors.
He has produced remarkable and impactful titles such as No Limits: The Thalidomide Saga in 2016, Leave Them Laughing in 2010 and various critically acclaimed episodes of the documentary series Frontlineof which Murder on Abortion Row in 1996.
In 1983, Mr. Zaritsky won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for an episode of The Fifth Estate entitled Just Another Missing Kidabout a missing Ottawa teenager.
He was also a two-time Gemini Award winner, for an episode of College Days, College Nights in 2005 and The Suicide Tourist in 2008.
Mr. Zaritsky is survived by his wife, Annie Clutton, his daughter-in-law Errin and his son-in-law Bern as well as his grandchildren, Imogen and Reid.
“In his memory, he would like you to do two things,” Ms.me Clutton in a press release. Take a friend out for a beer or two, watch a locally made documentary and allow your life to change a bit. »