- Title: VARIOUS: Legendary American director Robert Altman dies aged 81
- Date: 23rd November 2006
- Summary: BERLIN GERMANY (FILE) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT ALTMAN, DIRECTOR, SAYING: "This is the last film I made ('A Prairie Home Companion') and uh, it's just a film that I made and Iove it very much and I hope everyone here likes it." (Asked about honorary Oscar) "I'm very flattered and I'm very happy to be getting that." ALTMAN ON RED CARPET / WAVING TO MEDIA AND FA
- Embargoed: 8th December 2006 12:00
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- Topics: Obituaries
- Reuters ID: LVA3TG10R5A2IO0JVC7SH2LHDX4O
- Story Text: SCRIPT: Robert Altman, considered one of American Cinema's greatest directors, has died at the age of 81 years old, a spokesman for his production company said on Tuesday (November 21).
The spokesman told Reuters that Altman died on Monday evening in a Los Angeles hospital but gave no cause of death.
The self styled Hollywood maverick, whose films include "The Player," "M*A*S*H," "Nashville," and "Gosford Park" spent almost half a century directing movies in a prolific career which saw several peaks and lows both with critics and audiences.
Altman established a reputation for irreverent, even cynical, observations about many of America's institutions. His movies became known for their star studded ensemble casts with improvised, free flowing - and often overlapping - dialogue.
He was nominated five times for the an Academy Award (as Best Director for "M*A*S*H," "The Player," "Short Cuts" and "Gosford Park" and for producing "Nashville which earned a Best Picture nomination") but he never won the trophy.
Altman finally received an honorary Oscar at the 2006 Academy Awards. During his acceptance speech, he revealed he had been the recipient of a heart transplant around 10 years ago. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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