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 JIM

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY., YOU WERE ONE HELL OF A DIRECTOR. THANKS AGAIN.

By Jim

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true loss to the movie industry john will be missed

By beautifulone

Man, sorry to hear this. Much love to his family. I love a lot of those movies...80's is my era, The Breakfast Club, anything Brat Packy is me...sorry for the loss...

By Rick

I enjoyed all of his films. Great entertainment; great fun! Some of his work would remind me of how challenging and complex growing up was and how absurdly serious and self-important we often were....and still remain, for some.

To capture all the nuances of being young and earnest and make it funny and interesting is a true talent. Such gifts are rare and to be treasured. Thank you!

Friday 07 August

By Tony

He was such a brilliant person!

By Alex

I loved all his stuff and had always hoped he would come back and do something else gold. It's a true shame and loss, but he will live forever through his classic films like Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and Home Alone just to scratch the surface.

By Sylvia Mastandrea

My condolences to his family & friends.

May he rest in peace.

He was a very good director & writer.

Wednesday 12 August

By Ally

My thoughts go out to his family... John Hughes was a legend in his own time. I hope he knew what happiness he brought to peoples lives. Favourite scenes... in "Pretty in Pink" when Jon Cryer sang in the record store and Anthony Michael Hall being trapped under the glass table at the party in "Sixteen Candles" and the record playing pizza. Another Favourite was Michael Anthony Hall in "Weird Science" when Lisa made him into a cool guy and they had left the bar and were in the car heading home and he said "My balls are half way up my ass but other then that Im perfect" Oh and in "Some Kind of Wonderful" when Mary Stuart Masterson was helping Eric Stoltz see if he could deliver the kiss that kills... That movie had a great soundtrack... wow, seems I could just go on and on. There are a lot of people out there writing comedy but no one made me laugh out loud like John Hughes could... Thank You! Life wouldnt have been the same without your movies.

By brainslug

Bummer. I could come up with some clever quote from one of your films . . . ANY one of your films, but what would the point be? RIP, John. From a truly heartbroken Midwesterner.

By plant sitter

What a shock. Very sad. Way too young to leave this earth. But what joy he left behind!

By Darlene Coleman

...Sorry to hear this...I was well into adulthood by the time he became known for some of the films listed here were made and of those I've seen I've thoroughly enjoyed each one...his "teen" flicks weren't just for teens...he was kind of brilliant in his knack for catching on film some of the most absurd (and sometimes even painful) issues of teen life and presenting them in and entertaining, humorous, yet compassionate way. He left behind some really good stuff that I still enjoy today and I am now in my 50s and non-white; even though he seemed to cater to teens and White suburbia, he had broad appeal as a director and film maker and told great stories.

Thursday 20 August

By omg

omg i feel so bad 4 the family RIP

By Stacie

I was so sad to hear of John's passing. I was a teen in the 80's and his movies helped to define my generation. I pray for his family through this difficult time.

Saturday 08 August

By Viki

On the poll I said no to Twitter and Facebook but for no other reason then I haven't had anything big (Paula's style of big) enough happening in my life that others would care to hear about. I don't understand why we need to nit pic everything famous people do. It's really getting old. It's getting to the point that "if they do they are damned and if they don't they are damned!' Are we all getting to be so darn insecure with ourselves that we want to desecrate peoples lives or make fun of them, or are we just plain ignorant of their feelings that we need to destroy the rich and famous for some kind of thrill cuz we haven't been able to succeed at what they have succeeded in doing ($$$$) and we know there isn't a chance that we ever will reach that status in life. We should concentrate on our own lives because in most cases our lives, with all our struggles turn out to be the same as their lives at the end.

By Kelly

We've lost the sausage king of Chicago. To quote The Breakfast Club, "I love his work."

By Mezsam

So sad indeed. I am especially fond of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, What a riot!!! Another good guy gone.

By Bombaa27

To the entire Hughes Family....I am so saddened to hear of your loss. The world has lost an extremely talented man and you have lost a beloved member of your family. I am truly sorry for your loss. I hope that the love coming from his many fans will in time help you to deal with this devastating loss. May God Bless All Of You!!

By Chrys

I was hoping he'd make another great movie to add to my collection. He captured the style of the 80's so well. Great filmmaker, great music scorer/soundtracker. Nobody did it better capturing american youth. R.I.P. you'll be missed~

By Meri

Bad Day for Ferris Bueller et al. However, my favorites were The Breakfast Club, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and Pretty in Pink. He gave a voice to a generation, not my generation albeit, but a funny and memorable one. He must have known deep down when he decided to focus on his family 10 years ago, that his time might be short.

By vgkflc

59 !!! man thats way to young. Rest easy brother. Thanks for giving us something to talk about.

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