Director John Schlesinger Dies at 77

By Jack July 25, 2003 11:47 AM

Oscar winning director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy, Cold Comfort Farm, The Next Best Thing) died early Friday morning, just hours after being removed from life support in a Palm Springs hospital on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - British-born director John Schlesinger, an Oscar winner for the 1969 film "Midnight Cowboy," was removed from life support in a Palm Springs hospital on Thursday.

The 77-year-old filmmaker suffered a debilitating stroke in December 2000. In recent weeks, his condition at Desert Regional Medical Center has deteriorated significantly, according to his spokesperson, Ronni Chasen.

Schlesinger's most celebrated work was for the groundbreaking film "Midnight Cowboy," which earned seven Academy Award nominations and won for best picture, best direction and best adapted screenplay.

He received earlier Oscar nominations for directing 1965's "Darling," which starred Julie Christie and captured the spirit of London's swinging '60s, and 1971's "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which pioneered the presentation of homosexual relations onscreen.

Schlesinger's last feature was 2000's "The Next Best Thing," starring Madonna and Rupert Everett.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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