One of the most influential directors ever to work in the horror genre passed away after a battle with brain cancer at his Los Angeles home today. Wes Craven is survived by his wife, Iya Labunka.
Craven first came to prominence with his poignant debut feature The Last House on the Left in 1972 and shocked audiences again with his 1977 film The Hills Have Eyes. A Nightmare on Elm Street, the film which Craven remains most fondly remembered for saw release in 1984. The director again made his mark on the slasher genre in 1996 with Scream.
In addition to directing, Craven was also a published author, his first book, The Fountain Society saw publication in 1999. That same year, he also directed Meryl Streep (in an Academy Award nominated performance) in Music of the Heart.
Craven had several television projects in the works, including The People Under the Stairs with SyFy. He was also working as an executive producer on MTV’s Scream series.
Unlike many of his peers, Wes Craven never lost his touch. He revitalized the horror genre on several different occasions and his influence will be seen for years to come. And he will be sorely missed by his legion of fans.
