Chuck Russell, director of Hollywood hits such as The Mask and Eraser, has sadly passed away aged 74.
According to TMZ, his family reported that he passed away unexpectedly at his San Diego-area home on Wednesday, July 23.
It was also reported that the local fire department was called that afternoon to respond to a medical emergency involving an unconscious man, and responders were dispatched to his home. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and his family is currently traveling to California for answers.
Born Charles Raymond Russell, the filmmaker was also an accomplished screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in 1987. The film is widely regarded as one of the best entries in the franchise.
A year later, he wrote and directed the cult horror film The Blob. He went on to direct the hit comedy The Mask, starring Jim Carrey. Two years later, he directed the action film Eraser with Arnold Schwarzenegger as lead. All of three movies received positive reviews when they were released, and remain highly acclaimed today in their respective genres.
He was also one of the first directors who helmed a movie kicking off Dwayne Johnson’s career. The two worked together on the latter’s feature-film debut as a leading actor, The Scorpion King, a spin-off of The Mummy franchise. After a 14-year hiatus, he returned to directing John Travolta’s I Am Wrath and later Paradise City.
His other directorial, screenwriting, and producing credits include Witchboard, Paradise City, Junglee, Fringe, Bless the Child, Collateral, Dreamscape, and Girls Just Want to Have Fun. He also had three acting credits, including Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, Shot, and The Blob.
His IMDb page also lists three projects in pre-production. These include White House Down, Hyperia, and b.
ComingSoon sends condolences to Russell’s friends and family at this time.
