Peter Medak, Director of 'The Changeling' and 'The Krays,' Dies in Los Angeles

Peter Medak, the Hungarian-born director known for guiding both horror and drama projects, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 88 years old.

Medak’s professional life spanned six decades. He directed 27 feature films that ranged in genre from psychological horror to black comedy and crime drama. His 1980 supernatural thriller "The Changeling," which starred George C. Scott, won eight Genie Awards, including the award for best motion picture. In 1990, he directed the British gangster film "The Krays" and received the Evening Standard Award for best director.

Born in Budapest in 1937, Medak spent portions of World War II in hiding with his family. Under Hungary’s Communist government, his father was imprisoned, and Medak was prevented from attending school. He left for England during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He began working in the British film industry as an assistant director before moving to Hollywood.

He made his feature directorial debut in 1968 with the film "Negatives," starring Glenda Jackson. His 1972 satire "The Ruling Class," starring Peter O'Toole, competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and earned an Oscar nomination for O'Toole. Other notable credits include "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg," "Let Him Have It," and "Romeo Is Bleeding," which starred Gary Oldman.

Medak also directed television episodes for series including "Homocide: Life on the Street," "The Wire," "Breaking Bad," and "House." In 2018, he released the documentary "The Ghost of Peter Sellars." The film examined his earlier 1970s production of the comedy "Ghost in the Noonday Sun."

He is survived by his four children, Christopher, Joshua, Karen, and Cornela, as well as five grandchildren.