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ITN
Oscar-winning director Minghella dies
Oscar-winning director Minghella dies
Oscar-winning film director and playwright Anthony Minghella has died at the age of 54, it has been announced.According to reports, Minghella suffered a brain hemorrhage following routine surgery on his neck.Minghella, who was appointed a CBE in 2001, was born on the Isle of Wight, the son of Gloria and Edward Minghella, ice cream factory owners.His career began in earnest when he produced Whale Music in 1985 and went on to work in television where he script-edited kids' TV series Grange Hill and later the Storyteller series for Jim Henson.Minghella, a huge Portsmouth FC fan, also worked on episodes of the ITV drama series Inspector Morse.Truly, Madly, Deeply, a drama written by Minghella, went on to gain box office success having originally being written for TV.He was awarded an Oscar in 1996 for directing The English Patient and was nominated in the adapted screenplay category three years later for The Talented Mr Ripley and in 2003 for Cold Mountain.He most recently directed the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency based on Alexander McCall SmithÃÆ'¢Ã¢ââ¬Å¡Â¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Â¢s novel set in Botswana.Minghella, who recently stepped down as chairman of the British Film Institute, is survived by his wife, Hong Kong-born choreographer Carolyn Choa, and two children, Max and Hannah. Minghella's brother, Dominic, is also a successful scriptwriter.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
ITN | March 18, 2008
