\n\tJamie Blanks, director of late-\u201990s and early-2000s slasher films Urban Legend and Valentine, has died. He was 54. <\/p>\n
\n\tBlanks\u2019s family confirmed his death in a statement posted to social media<\/a> on Friday, revealing that he died suddenly on March 20 at his home in Melbourne, Australia. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHis death was unexpected, despite some ill health in recent years, and comes at a time when Jamie was preparing to direct another film. He was still very active supporting other filmmakers and developing his own projects,\u201d the statement reads in part. \u201cAnyone who was lucky to know Jamie was immediately struck by his talent, kindness, humanity, generosity of spirit and boundless enthusiasm for what he did in life, but also \u2014 so importantly \u2014 for the people around him. This big, beautiful heart of his eventually gave way.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe statement continued, \u201cWe\u2019re imagining him now in a better place, chatting up a storm about horror movies and music with many others he loved and admired who have passed before him. Honour him by watching on of his films or John Carpenter\u2019s The Fog (a favourite film that inspired him to become a filmmaker) or listening to one of his music scores.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBorn in Melbourne on Nov. 29, 1971, Blanks began his filmmaking career at Swinburne Film School. After making short films in college, he made his feature directorial debut with TriStar Pictures\u2019 Urban Legend (1998). The film, starring Jared Leto, Rebecca Gayheart, Alicia Witt, Robert Englund, Tara Reid, Joshua Jackson and Michael Rosenbaum, grossed $72 million worldwide and became a cult classic among horror fans. <\/p>\n