Michael Cimino dead at 77

The Deer hunter director has passed away.

by Jennie Kermode

The director of The Deer Hunter Michael Cimino received his Leopard award on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival
The director of The Deer Hunter Michael Cimino received his Leopard award on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival Photo: Richard Mowe

Michael Cimino has died at the age of 77, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux has announced. The director of The Deer Hunter, and Desperate Hours and The Sicilian was a popular figure on the festival circuit and had recently released a long-awaited director's cut of his most troubled film, Heaven's Gate, in Venice.

Cimino directed a total of eight films in his lifetime and wrote several more, including science fiction classic Silent Running. He recently spoke to us about the huge collection of screenplays he wrote but never managed to bring to the screen.

No details of the cause of death have been released but Cimino is said to have passed away peacefully in the company of the two women who loved him.

Share this with others on...
News

The serpent's call Composer Stephen Lukach on creating tension and awe in Beware Boiúna

Care and community Mike Leigh and the Tender Loving Care cast on humanity and looking out for one another

The aftermath Jorge Thielen Armand on returning to Venezuela to make Death Has No Master

Making magic Gregg Bishop on witches, inspiring actors, instinctive filmmaking and The Heretiks

The road to The Guests Cristina Diz and Stefan Butzmühlen on working together on their latest film

Beyond Saturn Tina Gharavi, Tala Calil and Assaad Bouab on Shadows Of Beirut

Puppy love Brad Pitt on the 'moving' Heart Of The Beast shoot thanks to furry co-star Odin

More news and features

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


San Sebastian Golden night for Tender Loving Care


Toronto La Bola Negra wins People's Choice award


San Sebastian Naomi Watts dedicates Donostia Award to Lynch


San Sebastian Werner Herzog honoured


Dinard Full programme announced


LFF Full programme announced