Sir Alan Parker has passed away today aged 76. The acclaimed director of Bugsy Malone, The Commitments and Evita passed following a lengthy illness.

Alan Parker filming Evita. Photo: Hollywood Pictures

The British Film Institute has confirmed the legendary British film director Alan Parker passed away this morning.

A founding member of the Director's Guild Of Great Britain, he was founding Chairman of the UK Film Council from 2000 - 2005 and Chairman of the BFI.

Sir Alan Parker was a two-time Oscar nominee and directed films that we now consider classics including Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments and Evita. His films accrued 19 BAFTAS, 10 Golden Globes, and 10 Oscars between them.

Starting in the advertising industry, Parker was one of several British directors who redefined the look and feel of television commercials in the 70's and 80's.

In 1974, Parker moved into film directing the BBC film The Evacuees by Jack Rosenthal, written by Jack Rosenthal, which won The International Emmy Award and a BAFTA award for direction, Parker's first.

Parker directed the movie Fame in 1979, which won two Academy Awards, six nominations, four Golden Globe nominations and was adapted into a worldwide smash TV series.

A talented cartoonist and painter, Parker was also a novelist publishing Puddles In The Lane (1977) and The Sucker's Kiss(2003) in addition to the novel of Bugsy Malone adapted from his screenplay.

Several of Parker's films were adapted for the stage including Bugsy Malone and The Commitments.

Andrew Lloyd Webber tweeted

https://twitter.com/OfficialALW/status/1289237837854859265

Parker is survived by his wife Lisa Moran-Parker, his children Lucy, Alexander, Jake, Nathan and Henry, and seven grandchildren.

https://youtu.be/b6q9KxehJ5o