Peter Bogdanovich, The Last Picture Show and Paper Moon director, dies at 82
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated director behind iconic films like The Last Picture Show, has died. He was 82.
Bogdanovich's daughter Antonia confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter the director died at his Los Angeles home from natural causes early Thursday.
Bogdanovich rose to fame after directing and co-writing 1971's The Last Picture Show, the classic coming-of-age film that earned him Oscar nominations for writing and directing early in his filmmaking career. Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman also won Academy Awards for their supporting performances in the film, which picked up eight nominations including Best Picture. From there, Bogdanovich directed movies including the 1970s comedies What's Up, Doc and Paper Moon, as well as dramas like 1985's Mask.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bogdanovich had a background in film criticism and wrote articles for Esquire, leading to B-movie director Roger Corman hiring him in the 1960s. "He was among the first generation of movie nerds-cum-directors who were raised on the language of cinema," Variety said in its obituary, while also noting that his "personal life threatened to overshadow his career behind the camera." Bogdanovich famously had affairs with The Last Picture Show star Cybill Shepherd and with Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten, the latter of whom was killed by her husband in 1980. Bogdanovich wrote about Stratten's murder in his 1984 book The Killing of the Unicorn, and he later married her sister Louise.
Outside of directing, Bogdanovich also took on some acting roles during his career, including when he portrayed a psychotherapist on The Sopranos. He is survived by two daughters from his marriage to production designer Polly Platt, according to the Reporter.
The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro remembered Bogdanovich as a "champion of cinema" who "birthed masterpieces as a director and was a most genial human," while critic Matt Zoller Seitz reflected that with Bogdanovich's death, "one of the last remaining links to classic Hollywood is also gone."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Kate Summerscale's 6 favorite true crime books about real murder cases
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Helen Garner, Gwen Adshead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Team of bitter rivals
Opinion Will internal tensions tear apart Trump's unlikely alliance?
By Theunis Bates Published
-
6 elegant homes in the Mediterranean style
Feature Featuring an award-winning mansion in Colorado and an Alhambra palace-inspired home in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published