Batman director Joel Schumacher dies at age 80

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Batman director Joel Schumacher has passed away at the age of 8o.

The costume designer-turned-filmmaker – whose most notable work includes the likes of St Elmo’s Fire, The Lost Boys, Falling Down and Flatliners, as well as Batman Forever and Batman & Robin – died in New York City on Monday (June 22) after a year-long battle with cancer.

A statement from his publicist confirmed that he "passed away quietly".

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Related: Batman & Robin director Joel Schumacher had plans for another Batman movie

Tributes have since been flooding in from those who knew or worked with Schumacher, including The Lost Boys star Kiefer Sutherland.

"His joy, spirit and talent will live in my heart and memory for the rest of my life," Sutherland tweeted. "His mark on modern culture and film will live on forever. I will miss you, my friend."

Photo credit: Kiefer Sutherland - Twitter
Photo credit: Kiefer Sutherland - Twitter

Emmy Rossum, who starred in Schumacher’s 2004 film adaptation of 1986’s The Phantom Of The Opera, said: “I am in tears learning of Joel Schumacher’s passing. He was a force. He was one of a kind. Creative. Intense. Passionate. He played a huge part in the shaping of my life."

Filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith wrote: "I met him on the set of the ill-fated Batman & Robin and he couldn’t have been nicer or more hospitable (and the man looooved to gossip). The Incredible Shrinking Woman was an early cable TV classic for me and I loved St Elmos Fire, The Client and Flawless."

Ben Stiller also tweeted: "He was kind, talented and made movies we went to the theatres for. A true professional, and a magnetic presence."

Photo credit: Ben Stiller - Twitter
Photo credit: Ben Stiller - Twitter

In 1995, Schaumacher took over the Batman franchise from Tim Burton to direct Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman and Tommy Lee Jones. He followed that up in 1997 with the George Clooney-led Batman & Robin, which was famously panned by critics.

Opening up about his career in film in 2017, Schumacher told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think I'm one of the luckiest people that ever lived. I got my dream. I got it so much bigger than even I could have dreamed it.

"You know, I'm just a kid whose parents died very young who was on his own and grew up behind a movie theatre before TV, and I wanted to tell those stories, and look what happened."


Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.

Looking for more TV recommendations and discussion? Head over to our Facebook Group to see new picks every day, and chat with other readers about what they're watching right now.

You Might Also Like