Anthony Minghella, who won an Oscar for The English Patient and directed such hit movies as The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain and Truly Madly Deeply, has died. He was 54.
The English Patient, based on the acclaimed novel by Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje, tells of a burn victim's tortured recollections of his misdeeds in time of war. It won nine Oscars in all, including best picture, best supporting actress for Juliette Binoche, and a raft of technical Oscars including best film editing, best costume design and cinematography.No cause of death has been reported just yet, but we suspect whatever it was was long, drawn out and historical.
Minghella also turned his talents to the opera stage. In 2006, he directed an acclaimed staging of Puccini's Madama Butterfly at New York's Metropolitan opera.
[USA Today]
