L.A. Confidential and 8 Mile director, Curtis Hanson, dies at 71

Curtis Hanson, best known for directing the likes of L.A. Confidential, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and 8 Mile, has died at the age of 71.

Hanson passed away at his Hollywood Hills home on Tuesday afternoon, a Los Angeles police spokesman said: “Hanson died of natural causes” without going into further detail. It was reported that he had retired in recent years due to Alzheimer’s.

Eminem paid tribute to Hanson after the pair worked together on 2002’s 8 Mile:

“Curtis Hanson believed in me and our crazy idea to make a rap battle movie set in Detroit,” Eminem said in a statement. “He basically made me into an actor for ‘8 Mile.’ I’m lucky I got to know him.”

While many more tributes poured in on twitter from fellow filmmakers and actors:

RIP Curtis Hanson. Thanks for Silent Partner, Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Wonder Boys & others. But especially for the epic LA Confidential.

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) September 21, 2016

Obviously distracted & upset…RIP to Curtis Hanson… this correction because he would have asked for another take…"in technicolor sir"

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) September 21, 2016

So sad to hear about Curtis Hanson. great director. great man. Riding that river with him was one of the greatest gigs of my life

— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) September 21, 2016

Hanson was born in Reno, Nevada, but grew up in Los Angeles. He began screenwriting and directing in the early 1970s, although he first made a real name for himself with 1992’s The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

Hanson went on to helm 1994’s The River Wild with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. He also directed Wonder Boys starring Tobey Maguire and Michael Douglas.

But Hanson’s biggest breakthrough was in 1997 with L.A. Confidential, which he co-wrote and directed. Winning best adapted screenplay at the Oscars, as well as being nominated for best director and the movie for best picture.

Hanson directing Drew Barrymore in 2006’s Lucky You.