A true legend in my heart has left us. 80s Icon John Hughes has died unexpectantly at the age of 59.
John Hughes, director of “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” died of a heart attack Thursday. He was 59.
Hughes died while taking a morning walk during a trip to Manhattan to visit family
Holy Crap.
I am speechless.
This man shaped my teenage years. He gave me the films that formed my sense of humour and informed me that girls didn’t have coodies. He also made me fall in love with Molly Ringwald (and my obsession with redheads ever since) as well, he firmly planted me on the road to ubergeekdom, because I knew one day I would just wear a bra on my head and frankenstien me a supermodel with full lips and a flirty fashion sense out of a personal computer, some lightning and a Barbie Doll.
He WROTE the following films and was director and producer on dozens of others:
Drillbit Taylor (2008)
Beethoven’s 5th (2003)
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Home Alone 4 (2002)
Beethoven’s 4th (2001)
Just Visiting (2001)
Beethoven’s 3rd (2000)
American Adventure (2000)
Reach the Rock (1998)
Home Alone 3 (1997)
Flubber (1997)
101 Dalmatians (1996)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Beethoven’s 2nd (1993)
Dennis the Menace (1993)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Beethoven (1992)
Curly Sue (1991)
Dutch (1991)
Career Opportunities (1991)
Home Alone (1990)
Christmas Vacation (1989)
Uncle Buck (1989)
The Great Outdoors (1988)
She’s Having a Baby (1988)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Weird Science (1985)
European Vacation (1985)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Nate and Hayes (1983)
National Lampoon’sVacation (1983)
Mr. Mom (1983)
I strike a dramatic freeze frame fist pump in the air to the melodic tones of Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me”
We won’t forget about you Mr Hughes.
you know what’s sad no one media wise cares about this already. I won’t forget about you John Hughes!I promise!
Just a shock. I’m 54 and startin’ to get just a little freaked by these fellow “Boomer’s going waaaaay too soon! Planes, Trains, is one of my favorite “holiday’ films EVER! I always laugh so hard I’m cryin’….more poignant now with this sad news. Take Care John, you made ALL of us laugh just a little bit more through the weirdnessw. [Revelation 21:4]
That is SUCH an amazing list of films.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles alone makes him legendary
This has been making the rounds this morning – proof that John Hughes was a class act: http://digg.com/movies/Sincerely_John_Hughes
I’ll admit to laughing AND crying the first time I saw the Breakfast Club and understood
Crap – didn’t mean to hit enter.
I’ll admit to laughing AND crying the first time I saw the Breakfast Club and understood it. I personally think he made a larger impact on general pop culture than any other director of the last three decades.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is one of my all time favorite movies. When they rent that hotel is one of my favorite moments in my movie watching life.
You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I’m an easy target. Yeah, you’re right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you… but I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I’m not changing. I like… I like me. My wife likes me. My customers… Cause I’m the real article, whatca see is whatca get”—John Candy
does anyone know why he stopped working on films for nearly a whole decade?
granted i don’t know how involved he was in Drillbit Taylor, Main in Manhattan, and a couple of other things.
Rest in peace, Mr. Hughes.
Rodney, I echo your sentiments exactly. The summer I broke my arm I think I watched Ferris 30 times; an edited version on VHS recorded from broadcast TV nonetheless. It was the first VHS and DVD movie I bought.
We were talking about his movies at work last week, and the mother in-law of one of my co-workers got her start as an extra in Ben Stein’s classroom in Ferris. She is currently a theater actor in Chicago and spoke very highly of him as an artist and as a person.
im not sure if my family is alone on this tradition but its worth mentioning during this sad day in cinema. every thanksgiving after the meal we gather ’round to watch TRAINS, PLANES; even when we’re apart or out of state an effort is made to watch that film on sometime, somewhere. I will break tradition and watch PLANES tomorrow in memorium.
R.I.P.
uncle buck is highly underated.
Someone has died that I am actually sad about. He was my favorite director. Ferris Bueller is one of mty favorite movies. I just watched Planes, Trains, and Automobiles last week and Vacation days before that. This is a great loss.
R.I.P.
;-(
I have to say the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day off cost me a full GPA point in High School. He was the first writer/director that had a voice that I could relate to in film. It was because of him, I am a movie fan now. He will be missed.
so many great movies… r.i.p. john hughes
RIP Hughes. You gave a generation of teens some great movies…probably the best ever for a young generation to watch and experience…you and your movies won’t be forgotten.
Dammit. Another genius lost to us.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Ferris Bueller and The Great Outdoors. Some of the very best from the 80’s.
why did he stop working after 1997-1998?
he stopped writing, producing all together.
and he hasn’t directed since 1992.
Even though his best films were from his early career. The films have crossed generations of movie goers and thats a feat that few film makers have done. His success will live on in our memories.
“These children that you spit on as they try to change their world are quite aware of what there going through. – David Bowie-
(Quote shown from Breakfast Club Opening)
I lovedd both the films directed by Howard Deutch, written by John Hughes, “Pretty In Pink” (1986) and “Some Kind Of Wonderful”, (1987) which “Wonderful” was in essence a rewrite of the former to show a different outcome!
Weird Science was one of the wackiest films I seen in the 80’s. The film introduced me to Oingo Boingo/Danny Elfman and I been a fan ever since.
Breakfast Club the best overall- because everyone was curious about the following “Monday”, and it was best left to our imaginations.
And I had some laughs with Drillbit Taylor…
By the way, back in high school I had the hots for Some Kinds Mary Stuart Masterson.
59 years old; Jesus.
We’ve lost so many greats this year, it’s not even funny anymore.
It’s very late here but dammit, I will now watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
I just heard about this on ABC News.
John Hughes wasn’t the only passing; Budd Schulberg who wrote the classic film ‘On The Waterfront’ (“I coulda been a contender”) passed away yesterday.
RIP. “Life is like a raindrop on a lotus leaf”
My personal faves: Mr. Mom, Vacation, Home Alone, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Breakfast Club (one of my absolutely favorite movies ever, period), amd Weird Science.
This is not meant to be a sarcastic comment or anything, I really wish to respect his memory but I wish he would have worked on something else rather his last project be Drillbit Taylor.
Well, he really hadn’t written, produced, or directed anything worth while in years before Drillbit anyway.
I don’t know what happened, but it seems like he might have been tired of making movies. All his great stuff was in the 80’s and early (real early) 90’s.
He probably accomplished all he wanted to and decided to do no more. Or, he got tired of the business. All I know, is it seems like he just dropped of the face of the movie-making world.
I heard that he just wanted to spend more time with his family
Man..RIP
What the crap is happening to everyone lately
Man oh man it’s been a bad summer.
Didn’t I read somewhere that a lot of people considered his commentary track on Ferris Bueller’s Day off to be the best commentary track ever?
I will watch Ferris Bueller in honor of him.