Roger Michell dies: “Notting Hill” director was 65

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Roger Michell, the director of films such as “Notting Hill”, “Venus” and “My Cousin Rachel”, died on Wednesday, his publicist told the UK Press Association. He was 65 years old.

A statement from his press secretary at the agency on Thursday read: “It is with great sadness that the family of Roger Michell, director, screenwriter and father of Harry, Rosie, Maggie and Sparrow, announce their died at age 65 on September 22. “

Born in South Africa, Michell has had a successful career in theater, with appearances at the UK’s Royal Court Theater, the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he was resident director, and the National Theater, among others. For television, he directed the miniseries “Downtown Lagos” (1992), followed by the popular adaptation of “The Buddha of the Suburbs” by Hanif Kureishi (1993).

Michell made his directorial debut with “My Night with Reg” (1997), where a group of English homosexuals spend a night of memories after the death of a friend of theirs from AIDS.

The romantic comedy “Notting Hill” (1999), written by Richard Curtis and starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, was a worldwide success and made Michell a sought-after filmmaker across the pond in Hollywood. The thriller “Changing Lanes” (2002), starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson, followed, as did “The Mother” (2003), which saw Michell reunite with Kureishi.

Michell is also known for “Venus” (2006), again written by Kureishi, starring Peter O’Toole in a role that earned him his last Oscar nomination; “Morning Glory” (2010), with Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams; and “Hyde Park on Hudson” (2012, with Bill Murray, Laura Linney and Olivia Williams.

The filmmaker’s last fictional feature films were “Blackbird” (2019), with Susan Sarandon leading a cast that also included Kate Winslet and Sam Neill and “The Duke” (2020), starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren.

Michell won the BAFTAs for Best Miniseries for “The Lost Honor of Christopher Jefferies” (2014) and for Best Single Drama for “Persuasion” (1995).

Tributes are pouring in from the industry.

Winslet, who worked with Michell on the drama “Blackbird”, called the director “a magnificent man who made the world a better place.”

“We are heartbroken to lose the nicest and the best of men. Roger Michell was a loving and dedicated family man, but was also responsible for bringing together other families, creative families, around the world, ”Winslet said in a statement. “Myself and the actors in his film ‘Blackbird’ are eternally linked forever by the bond he forged between us all. We mourn him deeply today and will cherish and maintain his memory and his pure and magical spirit forever. A really big and good man that we have learned so much from. A brilliant director. A magnificent man, who made the world a better place. We, the lucky ones who knew him, were deeply touched by his gentleness and his almighty lionheart.

Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and the team at Sony Pictures Classics paid tribute to Michell on Thursday, describing him as a “world-class filmmaker”.

“We are devastated and shocked by the news of the death of our dear friend Roger Michell,” read a statement from the Sony Pictures Classics team. “We were just with him a few weeks ago at Telluride with ‘The Duke’ to celebrate his exceptional achievement. Roger was a world class filmmaker, one of the best ETs, and one of the cutest, warmest people you could ever meet. We’ve been close since 1995 when we brought him with his first movie ‘Persuasion’ to Telluride. Our hearts go out to his family and friends who are experiencing the deep sadness we all share. “

“So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Roger Michell, a wonderful director with tremendous integrity and compassion, in this world his kindness meant so much to me. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Thank you Roger for being so wonderful with all of us. Lasting love… ”actress Samantha Morton tweeted.

“We are sad to hear the news of the death of director Roger Michell. Best known for Notting Hill, his other films include Persuasion and Venus, ”the British Film Institute tweeted.

“What horrible news about Roger Michell. Devastating for his family. And sad news for all of us who loved so many of his films, ”tweeted Tricia Tuttle, director of the London Film Festival.

“Shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Roger Michell. Great manager and always such a great company. He was as generous with his time and attention to me as the main stars of Notting Hill. A kindness that I have never forgotten. Thoughts with the family of his son Harry and Roger, ”actor Sanjeev Bhaskar wrote.

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