John Zaritsky, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, has died aged 79. 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 over 40 years and has often addressed controversial topics including disease, drugs and assisted dying.
He has produced remarkable and impactful titles such as No Limits. The Thalidomide Sagain 2016, Leave Them Laughingin 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 Kidwhich focused on a missing Ottawa teenager.
He also received two Gemini awards: the first for an episode of College Days, College Nightsin 2005, and the second for an episode of The Suicide Touristin 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.
“He would like you to do two things in his memory,” 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. »