Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker John Irvin, Who Directed Fred Astaire and Schwarzenegger, Dies at 86
Filmmaker John Irvin, Who Directed Fred Astaire and Schwarzenegger, Dies at 86
18 Aug
Summary
- Director John Irvin, known for diverse films, died peacefully on August 11th.
- His career spanned over thirty features across TV, documentaries, and independent film.
- Irvin directed both Fred Astaire and Arnold Schwarzenegger, showcasing his versatility.
Filmmaker John Irvin, celebrated for his extensive work across television, documentaries, and film, has died at the age of 86. He passed away peacefully at his sister-in-law's home in the UK on August 11th, with his family present. Irvin's career encompassed more than thirty features, demonstrating a unique ability to move between genres and direct vastly different talents, from Fred Astaire to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, Irvin began his career with British Movietone News and directed early films like Gala Day and Inheritance, earning his first BAFTA for the latter. Throughout the 1960s, he produced acclaimed documentaries and provided early television roles for actors like Sir Anthony Hopkins.
In the 1970s, Irvin directed acclaimed TV dramas, including the John Le Carré adaptation Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, which garnered multiple BAFTA awards. His subsequent Hollywood career saw him direct films such as The Dogs of War, Ghost Story, Hamburger Hill, and Raw Deal.
Irvin also directed A Month By The Lake and City Of Industry, and later focused on independent European productions like Shiner and The Boys And Girl From County Clare. In his final years, he co-founded DearHeart production company and was completing a documentary about Abdullah Ibrahim.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sophie, in 1991, and is survived by their three children and two grandchildren.
