Love Story director Arthur Hiller died on Wednesday (17Aug16), aged 92.
The Canada-born filmmaker was best known for the blockbuster 1970 film, which starred Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal. Love Story was nominated for seven Oscars, including a Best Director nod for Hiller. Both MacGraw and O'Neal were Oscar-nominated for their roles in the classic tearjerker, while Hiller also directed three other actors in Oscar-nominated performances: John Marley, Maximilian Schell and George C. Scott. He won his own Oscar in 2002, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic works. The same year he earned a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.
Hiller enjoyed his own real life love story, having been married to fellow Canadian Gwen for 57 years. They met as classmates and Hiller noted that he first asked his wife to marry him when they were only eight years old. He studied psychology at the University of Toronto, and law at the University of British Columbia, before deciding to go into communications. He later got a job at Canada's CBC network in Toronto where he started out directing public affairs programs, before moving on to dramas, where he caught Hollywood's attention.
His other film credits included The Out of Towners, The Americanization of Emily, Tobruk, Silver Streak, and the 1972 version of Man of La Mancha, featuring Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren.
Hiller was also a veteran TV director, helming episodic anthology series such as Matinee Theatre and Playhouse 90, as well as episodes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and Route 66.
He was revered in the entertainment industry after having served as president for both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) from 1993-7 and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) from 1989-93.
The current president of AMPAS, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, shared her condolences in a statement which reads: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved friend Arthur Hiller. I was a member of the Board during his presidency and fortunate enough to witness firsthand his dedication to the Academy and his lifelong passion for visual storytelling. Our condolences go out to his loved ones."
Ali MacGraw said, “Arthur Hiller was an integral part of one of the most important experiences of my life. He was a remarkable, gifted, generous human being and I will miss him terribly. My heart and love go out to his family.”
