John Hughes, Director of '80s Teen Classics, Dies

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 6th 2009 04:40PM

Film director John Hughes has died at age 59 of a heart attack while taking a morning walk during a trip to New York City to visit family.

Hughes was responsible for some of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s and 1990s, including 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', 'Weird Science', 'The Breakfast Club', 'National Lampoon's Vacation', 'Sixteen Candles', 'Pretty in Pink,' 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' and 'Home Alone 1 & 2.'

'Sixteen Candles'

'Breakfast Club'

Hughes had gotten his start as a writer for National Lampoon magazine. Children of the 1980s flocked to his teen trilogy made up of 'Sixteen Candles,' 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Weird Science' which helped to define a generation and make stars out of Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall.

Hughes' imprint was felt on several of his writing efforts too, ranging from 'Pretty in Pink' to 'Some Kind of Wonderful' as well as 'National Lampoon's Vacation' and the 'European' and 'Christmas' sequels. See Classic Hughes Quotes

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Remembering John Hughes

Filmmaker John Hughes was responsible for some of the most defining movies of the '80s as the writer/director of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 'Breakfast Club' and more. Take a look back at his many, wonderful accomplishments.

Everett Collection

Remembering John Hughes

John Hughes (producer), son James Hughes (writer), Kyle Cooper (director) on the set of New Port South.

Everett Collection

Filmmaker John Hughes was responsible for some of the most defining movies of the '80s as the writer/director of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 'Breakfast Club' and more.

Everett Collection

Director John Hughes on the set of 'Weird Science' in 1985.

Everett Collection

Director John Hughes with Mark Schoeffling and Molly Ringwald, the stars of his film 'Sixteen Candles.'

Everett Collection

Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald - stars of Hughes' film 'Pretty in Pink.'

Everett Collection

John Hughes wrote and directed 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' starring Matthew Broderick in 1986.

Everett Collection

'Breakfast Club' starring Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall in 1985.

Everett Collection

Hughes had a gift for discovering talent. Other than Ringwald, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Bill Paxton, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Jon Cryer had major career breaks courtesy of Hughes productions. His 1986 teen classic 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' which he wrote and directed, helped turn Matthew Broderick into a leading man. Track Down Locations for Hughes' Classics Hughes films' also captured the sounds of the times, with soundtracks for several films including 'Breakfast Club' and 'Pretty in Pink' producing new wave classics that were also chart toppers.

In the later years of his Hollywood career, Hughes turned towards more adult and family films, including his holiday classic 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' and 'Uncle Buck,' both starring the late John Candy. He also was a writer on the blockbuster comedy 'Home Alone.' Hughes hadn't directed a film since 1991's 'Curly Sue.' His last produced screenplay was 1998's 'Reach the Rock.'

"Those Aren't Pillows!" A Classic Scene From 'Planes, Trains ...'

A spokesperson for Hughes confirmed the director's death. Variety reports that over the last decade, Hughes had stepped away from show business to spend time with his family, maintain a functioning farm in Illinois and support independent arts. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren. Revisit His Accomplished Filmography at Moviefone >>>

"How Could I Possibly Be Expected To Handle School on a Day Like This?" Bueller in Action

Tags: john hughes, JohnHughes, movie director, MovieDirector, obituary

Comments

(165)

Thursday 06 August

By Nerns

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As someone who grew up in the Northshore of Chicago, I loved his movies. I actually attended Breakfast Clubs in High School. They were a real thing at New Trier.

Planes, Trains is one of the best scripts ever. When you want to cry during a comedy, you know he did it just write.

Hope they remember him in the North Shore area some how.

By Sara

Grew up in Highland Park....he was a legend!

Friday 07 August

By Ann

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I too grew up on the North Shore, and did my time in the Breakfast Club over at New Trier. Although life has taken me places far from home, I always go back to my John Hughes movies when times are tough and I want to just kick back and remember the good old days.

By ROLLANDO

My condolences to his family, friends and fans around the world. May his soul be in a happier place than Earth had ever been. Rest in peace.

By CATHY

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My heart goes out to his family.

By Paula Vertin

Dear Mrs. Hughes and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. John put so much laughter into all of in the 80's. There is alittle of all of us in Christmas Vacation, The Breakfast Club, and of course Ferris Buller, just to name a few. May peace and love be with the whole family..

R.I.P. John Hughes..............Paula Vertin

By David Clark

Hughes was to movies in the eighties what Michael Jackson was to music in the eighties. What a loss. All my sypathy to his family.More sadness in a sad decade.

By GWJ

Very sad, indeed. RIP, John Hughes, you went far too soon.

By nayss

WHAT A HUGE TALENT JOHN HUGHES WAS. IT SEEMS A SHAME TO LOSE HIM SO EARLY. SOME OF HIS MOVIES WERE FAVORITES OF MINE, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY, THEY WERE THE FAVORITES OF MANY OTHERS. WHEN MY MOTHER WENT TO NY, I WAS LEFT IN ST. LOUIS, MO, TO FINISH MY JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. MY GRADES WERE FINE, BUT ATTENDANCE WORST THAN THE FERRIS CHARACTER.
JOHN, WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

By Maggie

I loved his movies. He will be missed.

By David B

I am saddened that John Hughes passed away at age 59. This is way too young to die. His movies were classic and defined the 1980's.
One way too prevent heart disease besides blood pressure and cholesterol control is to get a prophylatic heart catherization after age 45. That would save a lot of unexpected deaths from heart attacks.

By Valerie Anne

First to say, your email about John was nice. And the informations you added about a special test to take to check about your heart condition thru prophylatic heart catheization. I will look into. Ive been having chest pains lately. I just turned 51. I am hearing impaired and Ive seen all of his flims with closed captioned to understand what they are saying. I loved all of his fun flims. Thank you for your helpful email. Im not alone.. you have reach out to others to seek helps. John H. would have been proud of you. RIP J.H. Thanks for making many laughed. Will carry on.. God Bless his family at this time. Thanks David B.
Southern Orange County, Valerie Anne :-)

By Doug Hughes

True Genius
The world is a whole lot emptier
and a whole lot short of laughs.
we will miss you, John Hughes.
God Bless

By Mary

The world has lost a tremendous talent! What better talent is there than the talent to bring laughter to others? My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends... there will never be another man like him.

By Demon Scalp

I am shocked this made the second page of AOL News and not the first page; John Hughes is a very notable director.

By Kelly

I was just quoting a line from 16 Candles this afternoon and I come home to read that John Hughes has died. Very sad, he was a comedic genius and he will be greatly missed but never forgotten thanks to his movie legacy.

Tuesday 11 August

By Tanya

Sad Sad day

By moose

Thanks for the laughs! RIP

By K.C.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles remains my favorite "holiday" movie.
He was a great man--a genius for tapping into the idea that great
pathos can make for great comedy. At least he was smart enough to
spend his last few years on a farm with his family. Obviously, he not
only made good films, but made good decisions about what was really
important in life. Fine work, fine man. Rest in Peace, John.

By Ashleigh

How sad. He was very talented and entertained so many people. His movies were some of my favorites growing up.

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