Curtis Hanson, Oscar-winning director of L.A. Confidential, dies aged 71

Very sad news.

Curtis Hanson, the Oscar winning writer and director of L.A. Confidential, has died aged 71. Los Angeles police confirmed that Hanson died of natural causes at his home on Tuesday. The talented director of 8 Mile and Wonder Boys had retired in recent years due to Alzheimer’s. It's very likely that you've admired Hanson's work as he directed films such as The Hand That Rocks The Cradle,  The River Wild and In Her Shoes but it was his stylish adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel that he'll be most remembered by. His final project was 2012 surf movie Chasing Mavericks, with Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue, but he was forced to pull out during filming with Michael Apted taking his place. In a statement to Billboard Eminem paid tribute to Hanson for giving him his electric acting debut in 8 Mile, a movie that years later still has a legion of adoring fans. He said: "Curtis Hanson believed in me and our crazy idea to make a rap battle movie set in Detroit. He basically made me into an actor for 8 Mile. I'm lucky I got to know him." Russell Crowe, who starred as detective Bud White in L.A.Confidential, was one of the countless others who expressed their sadness following the news. https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/778449498741673984 https://twitter.com/RobLowe/status/778418258009477120 https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/778475827386130433 https://twitter.com/creepypuppet/status/778442197821599744 https://twitter.com/kevinbacon/status/778437886920257536 https://twitter.com/TheAcademy/status/778433579420229632