Urban Legend Director Jamie Blanks Dies at 54

Australian filmmaker Jamie Blanks, best known for directing the 1998 horror hit Urban Legend, died suddenly at his home in Melbourne on Monday. He was 54.

Blanks's family confirmed the news in a statement posted to social media on Friday, describing his passing as unexpected despite some ill health in recent years. The statement noted that Blanks had been preparing to direct another film and remained active in the industry, supporting other filmmakers and developing his own projects. "Anyone who was lucky to know Jamie was immediately struck by his talent, kindness, humanity, generosity of spirit and boundless enthusiasm for what he did in life, but also so importantly for the people around him," the family wrote. "This big, beautiful heart of his eventually gave way." They added that Blanks is now imagined "in a better place, chatting up a storm about horror movies and music with many others he loved and admired who have passed before him." The family encouraged fans to honor him by watching one of his films, John Carpenter's The Fog—which inspired his career—or listening to his music scores. Blanks is survived by his wife, Simone; son, Oliver; parents; and brothers.