Peter Medak, the director of the 1980 supernatural thriller The Changeling, died in Los Angeles on October 27 at 88. He leaves a directing career that included 27 feature films across 6 decades.
For horror audiences, his work includes The Changeling, which starred George C. Scott and earned 8 Genie Awards, including best motion picture.
His films ranged from horror to satire and crime drama. Peter O’Toole received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Medak’s 1972 film The Ruling Class, which also competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Medak later won the Evening Standard Award for best director for The Krays, released in 1990.
Born in Budapest in 1937, Medak and his family hid during part of World War II. His father was later imprisoned under Hungary’s Communist regime, and Medak was barred from school. He escaped to England during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
He entered the British film industry and worked as an assistant director before moving to Hollywood. Negatives, starring Glenda Jackson, became his feature directing debut in 1968. His other films included A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Let Him Have It and Romeo Is Bleeding, starring Gary Oldman.
His television work included directing episodes of The Wire, Breaking Bad and House.
Medak is survived by his 4 children, Christopher, Joshua, Karen and Cornela, and 5 grandchildren.
