Celebrated director Sir Alan Parker has died at the age of 76, his spokesperson has confirmed.
The filmmaker oversaw hits including Bugsy Malone, Evita and Angela's Ashes.
Announcing the sad news on behalf of his family, a spokeswoman said Sir Alan died on Friday morning “following a lengthy illness.”
Tributes soon began pouring in online with fellow director David Puttnam saying: “Alan was my oldest and closest friend, I was always in awe of his talent. My life and those of many others who loved and respected him will never be the same again.”
The Awakening director Nick Murphy described Sir Alan as a "huge talent."
Alongside a picture of the star, he wrote: “Alan Parker made so many wonderful movies. Just wonderful. A huge talent. As I’m sure you know. RIP Alan Parker.”
Sir Alan was born in Islington, London, on February 14, 1944, and began his career in advertising as a copywriter.
He graduated to writing and directing commercials, and in 1974 moved into long form drama when he directed the BBC film, The Evacuees, written by Jack Rosenthal.
Sir Alan wrote and directed his first feature film, Bugsy Malone, in 1975 – a musical pastiche of Hollywood gangster films of the 1930s with a cast of children.
Parker’s second film, 1977’s Midnight Express, won two Oscars, six Golden Globes and four Baftas.
In 1981, he directed Pink Floyd – The Wall, the feature film adaptation of the band’s successful rock album, which became a cult classic among music fans.
In November 1995, he was made a CBE for services to the British film industry and he received his knighthood in 2002.
Sir Alan received the Bafta Academy Fellowship Award, the body’s highest honour, in 2013.
Sir Sean Connery, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir Christopher Lee, Martin Scorsese and Mike Leigh have been awarded the fellowship.
In 2018, Parker donated his significant private collection of scripts and working papers to the BFI National Archive.
He is survived by his wife Lisa Moran-Parker, his children Lucy, Alexander, Jake, Nathan and Henry, and seven grandchildren.
