Director Peter Medak, who made 'The Changeling,' dies in Los Angeles
The Hungarian-born filmmaker died Tuesday at age 88, leaving behind a body of work that included 'The Krays' and 'The Ruling Class.'
By James Foster ·
Peter Medak, the director of the 1980 supernatural hit "The Changeling," died in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was 88. The Hungarian-born filmmaker had built a career over six decades that moved between psychological horror, black comedy, and crime dramas.
Medak directed 27 feature films during his professional life. His 1980 thriller, starring George C. Scott, took home eight Genie Awards, including the prize for best motion picture. He also directed the 1990 British gangster drama "The Krays," a role that earned him the Evening Standard Award for best director.
Born in Budapest in 1937, Medak spent parts of World War II in hiding with his family. His father was imprisoned under Hungary’s Communist regime, and Medak was barred from attending school. He fled to England during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and started working in the British film industry, serving as an assistant director before moving to Hollywood.
His first feature film was the 1968 movie "Negatives," which starred Glenda Jackson. In 1972, he directed the satire "The Ruling Class" with Peter O’Toole. That film competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and secured an Oscar nomination for Toole. Other film credits include "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg," "Let Him Have It," and "Romeo Is Bleeding."
Medak also directed episodes of television series such as "The Wire," "Breaking Bad," and "House." His 2018 documentary, "The Ghost of Peter Sellars," revisited his troubled 1970s production of "Ghost in the Noonday Sun."
He is survived by four children, Christopher, Joshua, Karen, and Cornela, as well as five grandchildren.
