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

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=685197&pid=685196&uts=1249595922

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

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 Carol

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It is a shame John Hughes passed away, He was a great director, I still watch Plains Trains, and Automobiles. every Thanksgiving, Who can forget 16 candles, and Chevy Chase in the Vacation movies, He will be greatly missed, May god be with his family at this difficult time,

By NYBALDERAS1

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

May God Bless him and his internal soul will entertain Heaven... I grew up watching his films. He influence teens even in the ghettos of NYC... He brought us hope in times of despair..

By David

WHAT A DRAG! I loved his movies, especially Ferris and T,P&A's. Major bummer ... much too young, especially for someone this talented. I'm sure those who had the pleasure of working with him are devastated.

Saturday 08 August

By Janet

Vote down Vote up Report this

Yes, thank god there is life after high school!
Pretty in Pink was mine and my husband's first date movie and we just celebrated our 22nd anniversary. We have it on DVD and our teenage daughters love to watch it and Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club and who could ever forget Ferris??
God bless John Hughes and his family!!

By Valerie

This is so sad; the weird thing is, I was JUST thinking about him. I met him years ago when I worked at a rare record store in Santa Monica, CA. He used to come in and buy old records all the time. I had just seen "She's Having a Baby" and I told him that I didn't think it was very romantic. He was so cool about it; he accepted what I had to say and just went about his business. He will be missed!

By Jolene

What a sad day for 80's fans! I loved just about every movie that John Hughes every directed. He will be missed. God bless his family in their time of loss.

Friday 07 August

By Kevin

Probably the thing that most comes to mind is his talent of showing a touching side of humanity in the midst of comedic genius. The final scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Steve Martin reunites with his wife and introduces her to John Candy, well...she had me at hello.

I've read almost every comment here...it is amazing how he touched everyone in different ways, with laughs, with tears but all with a sense of relating to his characters and stories like no writer has done before, since and certainly never will again in such profusion.
Still my favorite line: "Cameron is so uptight, if you were to stick a lump of coal up his a**...in two weeks you'd have a diamond".

By Richie Boy

John Hughes was directly responsible for every teen film which has permeated the cinematic market over the last three decades.
No one has come close to articulating his dramatic as well as humorous vision.

By gary

This man, this director, I will remember well and fondly. Very sad that he died so suddenly, I am assuming, and so young. I will remember him for entertaining me when I was in HS, and giving the "kid who was thrown into lockers" hope in some of the characters he created, primarily in the "Brekafast Club" which to me, is a classic film not to mention every teenage boy's dream....to be Ferris Bueller.."Bueller? Bueller? Bueller"? I would have even taken the name, Ferris, in order to be 10% of what he was. I thank him for making me a little happier in HS, the most unhappy years in this man's life. Will be missed.

By Dr. Bob

I met him in a bookstore at a Chicago shopping mall in 1987. Even then nobody there recognized him. Despite his success and fame at the time he politely took time to answer my questions about his current project (she's having a baby)and how he had never been on a movie set in his life before 16 Candles. A GREAT man and talented writer who was never too busy to stop and talk to a fan. God Speed John...

By Sandy

Gary, Thank God there's life after High
School huh. As an adult Im glad I never have to look back at the parts that were so miserable.

By goose

As another Generation X-er, movies like "The Breakfast Club", "Weird Science", "Pretty in Pink" will always be what helped define the 80's for me (along with the music). I lived for new rat pack movies back then and I still watch them now. And those soundtracks? There's no substitute for them these days. Sure, I liked Batman Forever, but it wasn't "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" or "Sixteen Candles", now was it?
For those Rat Pack movies to still be quoted as often as they are nearly 20 years later, the man was true genius. I hope John knew what his movies meant to us as teenagers and just how much they are still loved. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

By Rgsvmi82

Shame. Great talent!

By jewelieen

I'm heartbroken. John Hughes created some of my all time favorite movies. The entertainment world has suffered a huge loss.

By Candice

Sixteen candles defined my teenage years! I am so sad to hear of the passing of John Hughes. He made great movies but also provided a soundtrack for the 80's. Thoughts and prayers to his family. The 80's would not have been the same without him.

By bkim23

I am sad by John Hughes death! I am a huge fan of all his 80's flicks! It's the BEST and CLASSIC! RIP. Why are all the good and the important people dying instead of OJ, or Phil Spector?

By chrissy

because there is an old saying only the good die young!! and i still like to know why oj isnt put away!! someday when we are old and gray they will get the proof!!

By MP

Dear Mr. Hughes (and family),

Your movies changed my life. I am proud of be a part of Generation X, and it's amazing how my own children admire your work, too. I'm torn between "Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink", as being my favorites. We're living in really interesting times and both movies remain timely, in their portrayal of social class consciousness issues. THANK YOU JOHN. WE LOVE YOU.

By Kim

I never saw a John Hughes movie I didn't absolutely love. He was a genius and will be dearly missed.

Page 1 of 9